Why Do I Sing? - by Jennifer Blomgren (Board Book)

About the Book

Illustrations and rhyming text explore the many voices in nature, from the call of a spotted owl above treetops at night, to the buzzing of honeybees in summer, to the songs of fin whales in the ocean.

Book Synopsis

Animals sing for all kinds of reasons and make all kinds of sounds in the process. The spotted owl sings at night, high above the treetops. A honeybee's buzzing is the sound of summer. And the low voices of fin whales broadcast in the blue Pacific Ocean. In a rhythmic cadence, this richly illustrated celebration of animal calls and noises surveys the region from summit to field to ocean to backyard. The world is alive with song! Why Do I Sing? possesses a beautiful cadence for reading aloud, as it invites us to consider all of the voices in nature. Little ones will love learning about these Pacific Northwest animals and the variety of sounds they make.

Review Quotes

Humans aren't the only creatures with the urge to sing. Blomgren describes the wild songs of marmots, fin whales, meadowlarks, loons and others, imagining what might compel them....Gabriel's big, rough-textured watercolors give a good sense of the particular beauty of the region.
--The New York Times

This tender pair [with Where Do I Sleep?] should make lovely bedtime additions. Gentle verses describe the sleeping and singing habits of various animals. Each of the illustrations contains the name of the animal in question. Soft and sweet yet beautifully textured, the images are lovely and will have readers poring over them.
--School Library Journal

Gabriel's handsome, atmospheric watercolor paintings on textured paper capture scenic panoramas or zoom in to render animals larger than life, from honeybee to meadowlark.
--Kirkus Reviews

Celebrate the sounds of Pacific Northwest animals, from howling wolves to buzzing honeybees. With lively lyrics and delightful illustrations, this rhythmic family read-aloud book explains calls of the wild through poetic verse.
--Alaska Airlines Magazine

The question, "Why do I sing?" is answered in short four-line rhymes by 15 resident species of the Pacific Northwest. Cheery two-page illustrations of the creatures accompany each joyful celebration of the call of the wild... Easily shared in read-aloud rhyme and informative watercolor illustrations..."
--Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Books

If you've ever hiked or camped in the Northwest, chances are you've heard owls hooting, marmots whistling or maybe even wolves howling. This book, written from each animal's perspective, is a combination of rhythmic verse and beautiful illustrations that will captivate you as well as your kiddos as you learn what gives animals their voice. Author and illustrator team Jennifer Blomgren and Andrea Gabriel, both Washingtonians, come together to bring you a book that will delight and entertain your whole brood.
--Red Tricycle

Why Do I Sing? Animal Songs of the Pacific Northwest has amazing illustrations with stories that take you through the sounds of the Pacific Northwest. From the Meadowlark, to the Spotted Owl and the Whistling Swan. This book is beautifully written. ...It is a great book to sit and read together as a family.
--Local Haven

Animal songs - so unique, so poignant, and so mysterious. In this beautifully-illustrated book, author Jennifer Blomgren explains the voices of animals and birds through human cadence of poetry. Excellent read-aloud book from birth on up.
--AK on the GO

Author Jennifer Blomgren and illustrator Andrea Gabriel, who previously collaborated for Where Do I Sleep? A Pacific Northwest Lullaby and Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree?, bring to the world of children's nature books a third title that is just as warm, fun, and visually appealing.
--Portland Book Review

With rhyming verse and beautiful paintings, the book celebrates the Northwest's noisy natural inhabitants, from the "long, low voices" of fin whales to the bugles of a Roosevelt bull elk.
--The Seattle Times

About the Author

Jennifer Blomgren is both a writer and lover of nature. She has previously authored three children's books, including Where Do I Sleep? and Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree?

Andrea Gabriel is the illustrator and/or author of eight picture books for children. She loves doing author visits to schools and is currently working on her first novel.