What a Noise! Level 15-16

What a Noise! is a vibrant and energetic text that follows a group of children as they form a band using handmade instruments. This procedural narrative, written and illustrated by Clare Bowes, introduces readers to onomatopoeia while blending storytelling with practical activity. Each child uses household materials to create instruments, offering a creative link between music and literacy. The book's effective use of text placement and font enhances the sensory appeal, especially in conveying the volume and variety of sounds. Designed for Orange-level readers, this book supports decoding strategies, phonemic awareness, and concept development, while sparking interest in the arts. It's ideal for both reading practice and hands-on learning.

Educational Benefits

• Supports understanding of onomatopoeia and sound-symbol relationships
• Encourages phonemic awareness through sound-based vocabulary
• Develops sequencing and procedural text comprehension
• Promotes cross-curricular connections with music and the arts

Classroom Ideas

• Invite students to build their own instruments and describe the sounds they make
• Create a sound word wall using onomatopoeic words from the book
• Perform a classroom œband and narrate the music using descriptive language
• Discuss how different materials produce different sounds

Information

• Ages: 6-7
• Reading Level: 15-16 (Orange)
• Book type: Procedural narrative
• Key themes: Communication, Music, Creativity