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Buzz
A child experiences the sights and sounds of morning--from a bee buzzing outside to the noise of the awakening household to the flurry before Mommy and Daddy leave for work. Buzz celebrates the warm familiarity of the family routine, as well as the childlike game of discovering a recurring sound.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Janet S. Wong
69 books29 followersJanet S. Wong was born in Los Angeles, and grew up in Southern and Northern California. As part of her undergraduate program at UCLA, she spent her junior year in France, studying art history at the Université de Bordeaux. When she returned from France, Janet founded the UCLA Immigrant Children's Art Project, a program focused on teaching refugee children to express themselves through art.
After graduating from UCLA, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History and College Honors, Janet then obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a director of the Yale Law and Technology Association and worked for New Haven Legal Aid. After practicing corporate and labor law for a few years for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood, she made a dramatic career change—choosing to write for young people instead. Her successful switch from law to children’s literature has been the subject of several articles and television programs, most notably an O Magazine article, a "Remembering Your Spirit" segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the Fine Living Channel’s "Radical Sabbatical."
Janet's poems and stories have been featured in many textbooks and anthologies, and also in some more unusual venues. Poems from Behind the Wheel have been performed on a car-talk radio show. "Albert J. Bell" from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Poetry in Motion" program, and was later highlighted on the Hallmark Channel’s "New Morning" show. And, in April 2003, Janet was one of five children’s authors invited to read at The White House Easter Egg Roll.
Janet and her books have received numerous awards and honors, such as the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award" for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy, and the prestigious Stone Center Recognition of Merit, given by the Claremont Graduate School. Janet also has been appointed to two terms on the Commission on Literature of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Janet currently resides near Princeton, NJ, with her husband Glenn and her son Andrew.
After graduating from UCLA, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History and College Honors, Janet then obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a director of the Yale Law and Technology Association and worked for New Haven Legal Aid. After practicing corporate and labor law for a few years for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood, she made a dramatic career change—choosing to write for young people instead. Her successful switch from law to children’s literature has been the subject of several articles and television programs, most notably an O Magazine article, a "Remembering Your Spirit" segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the Fine Living Channel’s "Radical Sabbatical."
Janet's poems and stories have been featured in many textbooks and anthologies, and also in some more unusual venues. Poems from Behind the Wheel have been performed on a car-talk radio show. "Albert J. Bell" from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Poetry in Motion" program, and was later highlighted on the Hallmark Channel’s "New Morning" show. And, in April 2003, Janet was one of five children’s authors invited to read at The White House Easter Egg Roll.
Janet and her books have received numerous awards and honors, such as the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award" for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy, and the prestigious Stone Center Recognition of Merit, given by the Claremont Graduate School. Janet also has been appointed to two terms on the Commission on Literature of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Janet currently resides near Princeton, NJ, with her husband Glenn and her son Andrew.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 14, 2009
The soothing sound of a buzzing bee outside a window begins this story followed by the hectic routine of the morning that many families face today. From the moment the alarm clock buzzes "Wake up!" Daddy's razor smoothes his rough face in one long slow buzz and the gardener mows the grass across the street, buzz." From the buzz of the morning breakfast, to the buzz of mom's hair dryer as she gets ready for work. The buzz of the doorbell brings grandma into the story so that mom can buzz off to work like a busy bee.
This delightful story emphasizes the use of onomatopoeia. Children are able to articulate the "buzz" sound at appropriate times throughout the book.
This joyful book will be appealing to many young children today-especially for those with two working parents who experience this chaos on a daily basis.
This book would be appropriate for students in preschool through second grade.
This delightful story emphasizes the use of onomatopoeia. Children are able to articulate the "buzz" sound at appropriate times throughout the book.
This joyful book will be appealing to many young children today-especially for those with two working parents who experience this chaos on a daily basis.
This book would be appropriate for students in preschool through second grade.
June 22, 2022
A boy’s mind is abuzz with thoughts as his mother and father get ready for the workday, making for a fun read aloud by sounding out all the onomatopoeia. Bold, colorful illustrations depict this multicultural family’s morning routine from the boy’s perspective.
June 19, 2018
Many things make buzzing sounds early in the morning, as discovered by a fascinated child. Nice illustrations.
August 3, 2018
As Mommy and Daddy begin their day and get ready for work, a child observes the morning routine at home as well as the buzzing bee outside the window, who has its own routine.
March 31, 2023
Clever story which connects buzz sound throughout the day to various sources of sound.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2009
From the very first thick black line of the bee buzzing overhead to the bee buzzing through the legs of the mom on her way to work, this book is a visual delight. The black and yellow striped end pages are fun too. The repetition of the onomatopoeia buzz and the black and yellow stripes pulled text and illustrations together. The change in perspectives drew my eyes to look close, to follow the movement of the morning, and to step back, and to look down. The textures from the printmaking paper and techniques and the bold colors and solid shapes are fun and perfect for young children. Even though the shapes are solid, there is still a sense of movement when the clothes come out of the dryer and the mom “hops on one leg to put her right sock on.”
Janet Wong has a way of taking the very simple things in life that transcend race and ethnicity and stretching them out to tell the story in this case of the feelings of a child as the adults get ready for their day. A subtle use of alliteration in the repetition of the /b/ sound throughout the text matched the theme and the bee.
The syntax bold type set matches the bold shapes and the black stripes of the bee. As the size of the type changes, becomes thicker, bolder, bigger, the eyes of the reader follow them. And it is impossible not to buzz with the bee and the alarm clock, wave goof-bye to Daddy and exclaim over the spilt juice. The placement of the text invites participation as does the line the bee travels. I am sure no little child could keep his or her hands off the page while listening to this book being read.
Janet Wong has a way of taking the very simple things in life that transcend race and ethnicity and stretching them out to tell the story in this case of the feelings of a child as the adults get ready for their day. A subtle use of alliteration in the repetition of the /b/ sound throughout the text matched the theme and the bee.
The syntax bold type set matches the bold shapes and the black stripes of the bee. As the size of the type changes, becomes thicker, bolder, bigger, the eyes of the reader follow them. And it is impossible not to buzz with the bee and the alarm clock, wave goof-bye to Daddy and exclaim over the spilt juice. The placement of the text invites participation as does the line the bee travels. I am sure no little child could keep his or her hands off the page while listening to this book being read.
March 20, 2010
Grade Range K-2
This is poetry on a picture book format; perfect for a read aloud! It tells a story about a young boy who hear hears the sound, "BUZZ" from the moment he wakes to the time his mother drops him off at grandma and grandpa's house to be looked after for the day while she is at work. I think many children could relate to the boy's busy morning routine. The illustrations are colorful, fun, and cheerful! This could be a great book for beginning a unit on poetry and also in discussing figurative language with all of the sounds you hear!
This is poetry on a picture book format; perfect for a read aloud! It tells a story about a young boy who hear hears the sound, "BUZZ" from the moment he wakes to the time his mother drops him off at grandma and grandpa's house to be looked after for the day while she is at work. I think many children could relate to the boy's busy morning routine. The illustrations are colorful, fun, and cheerful! This could be a great book for beginning a unit on poetry and also in discussing figurative language with all of the sounds you hear!
November 18, 2009
This is poetry on a picture book format. I would suggest that it be read aloud to young readers. It is a story about a young boy who hear hears many "buzzes" from the moment he wakes to the time his mother drops him off at grandma and grandpa's house. I think many children could relate to the boy's morning routine. The illustrations are very fun and colorful!
June 3, 2011
I never thought of how many things in my life "buzz" but the author points out twelve.
Excellent mentor text to show how sound words really bring text alive.
The art is colorful and textured. The family is bi-racial, which would make this book more real to my students, too, many who come from multicultural families, too.
Excellent mentor text to show how sound words really bring text alive.
The art is colorful and textured. The family is bi-racial, which would make this book more real to my students, too, many who come from multicultural families, too.
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March 15, 2013Buzz
By: Janet S Wong
Age: 4-7
This book is about a little boy that wakes in the mornings to buzzing noise. From his dad's razor to bumble bees outside. He discovers all the different buzzing sound that everyday items make. This is a cute little book. I think that children can relate to this with either that sound or any other sound that they might encounter in life.
By: Janet S Wong
Age: 4-7
This book is about a little boy that wakes in the mornings to buzzing noise. From his dad's razor to bumble bees outside. He discovers all the different buzzing sound that everyday items make. This is a cute little book. I think that children can relate to this with either that sound or any other sound that they might encounter in life.
December 1, 2008
This book has lots of familiar activities that kids will recognize from mornings around this house with their parents. There's opportunity to get them involved in the story with all that buzzing, too.
March 12, 2013
Buzz follows a preschool child through the beginning of his day, observing all the different things that buzz around him: a bee, an alarm clock, dad's razor, the blender, and more. Simple illustrations match the simple observations and make it an enjoyable parent-child read.
October 19, 2012
How many things "buzz" in the course of a day? From the bee to the alarm clock to the end of a dryer cycle, "buzzing" is explored here in a book that younger readers would love. Perhaps they might be invited to consider another sound that permeates their day. . .
November 18, 2014
I just love this simple depiction of home life and routine. Major bonus points for the illustration of the boy "shaving" his face with a toy car as his father shaves next to him, as well as the commanding profile of the boy as he demands his parents "WAKE UP!". Really well done.
May 24, 2017
This is a good book for onomatopoeia, as it emphasizes the sounds that are all around in a regular day. The perfect book to share with primary grade readers when introducing this new literary device. Simple and easily deconstructed.
August 19, 2009
As Mommy and Daddy begin their day and get ready for work, a child observes this morning routine at home as well as the buzzing of a busy bee outside the window. www.hcpl.net
February 2, 2010
About our surrounding sounds
August 1, 2010
Cute book about a kid waking up and hearing "buzz" from different things--a clock, his father's razor, and so on.
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December 16, 2010Everyone Needs a Home unit
August 6, 2016
Connects sound over the course of the day.
March 13, 2013
big clean pictures. fun sound effects. short book.
July 27, 2016
A little boy gets up in the morning and watches his family buzz around him as they get ready for the day. Are they bees? Cute. Not completely bee focused.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews