It’s hard to be the middle child, and no one knows that better than Noisy Nora in this popular children’s picture book by Rosemary Wells. Originally published in 1973, it was completely reillustrated in 1997 for a new generation of fans.
Mother is busy feeding baby Jack and Father is playing with Nora’s older sister Kate. Then the baby had to burp, and Nora is left in the middle, feeling left out. So she decided to slam some doors and throw some marbles around, but that didn’t get her the attention she wanted; everyone just told her to be quiet.
Now Father is giving Jack a bath while Mother bakes with Kate, and again, Nora is left to her own devices. So she knocks over a lamp and some chairs, to again be told to be quiet.
Jack is going to sleep while Father reads Kate a story. Finally Nora has had enough and she announces that she’s leaving. Now that the house is quiet, the family realizes that Nora is gone and they start looking for her. When she reappears, it’s with a crash, of course.
I’m not sure how I feel about this book, to be honest. Nora’s family treats her like a nuisance rather than like one of them, and her needs are never met throughout the course of the story. She tries to get attention through negative means, and then runs away, which is effective. I am concerned about the example this gives to children. But it is a cute book and perhaps I’m being too analytical.
Our other selection is “Read To Your Bunny,” the poem Rosemary wrote to go along with her literacy campaign. Aimed at parents, this book is equally enjoyable for children as we explore all the places we can read, like in the back yard, on an airplane, and at the beach. It promotes literacy as a bond between parents and children and points out how valuable those formative years are in a child’s life. This is a cute little booklet I think you’ll appreciate.
(“Noisy Nora” was published in 1997 by Viking, and “Read To Your Bunny” was published in 1997 by Scholastic. Both books were illustrated by the author.)
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