Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K–A delightful companion to Ho and Meade's Hush! A Thai Lullaby (Orchard, 1996), this title features a father and daughter playing "Jut-Ay." The setting is once again a lush jungle, but this time the animals' participation is encouraged, rather than discouraged. As Papa searches for his little one, he encounters a variety of noisy creatures and playfully responds to each one: "Jut-Ay, peek-a-boo,/Oh, puppy dog, it's just you!/Sniff behind that rattan chair./Is my baby crouching there?" From the rhymed verses and onomatopoeia to the nearly hidden toddler in each spread, this story is brimming with child appeal. Done in watercolor and cut-paper collage, the exuberant illustrations convey the energy of the high jinks and the girl's satisfaction at being found. Children will want to look for each creature in the final cozy scene. Small groups and individuals alike will enjoy this enticing offering. Pair it with Jose Aruego's We Hide, You Seek (Greenwillow, 1979) and Suse MacDonald's Nanta's Lion (Morrow, 1995) for a storytime of international proportions.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
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From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. Rhyming text and collage art invite participation in this cultural twist on a familiar childhood game, from the creators of Hush! A Thai Lullaby (1996). Just as American seekers might say "Peek-A-Boo," Thai seekers say "Jut-Ay" when they look for someone in hiding. Here, a father looks for his daughter, who hides in various places in their home and in their garden. The textured collage illustrations evoke a tropical setting and showcase animals indigenous to Thailand. Papa comes across creatures everywhere he looks: a dragonfly in the house, a rooster in the yard, a puppy on the porch. The phonetic sounds, such as the monkey's "Jiak-jiak" or the puppy's "Hru-hruu!" look strange spelled out on the page, but they are completely apt when read out loud. In fact, little ones may want to chime in as they join Papa's search among fronds, leaves, and lily pads. Diane Foote
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