Review: Can You Hear Them? One, Two!

Can You Hear Them? One, Two!

by Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh, illustrated by Florence Weiser

PJ Publishing, 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Rochelle Newman-Carrasco

 

Buy at PJLibraryshop.org

 

This sweet picture book opens as the rains end and the animals exit the ark to explore and play. The simple rhyming storytelling is not only meant to be read aloud, but has the added bonus of playing with the fun sounds animals make. This creates the opportunity for an interactive experience as readers encourage little listeners to imitate the sounds – the “grunt, grunt,” of piglets, the “Ooh-wah, Ooh-wah!” of elephants, and more. Speaking of little ones, the storytelling and illustration does a lovely job of focusing on the baby and young animals who are ready to play and explore. Not only does each picture feature adorable animals in action, but the use of rich, vibrant colors includes emphasizing the animal name and sound so that they stand-out. Little children, from diverse backgrounds, appear on the final pages, which adds a sense of unity and friendship. Can You Hear Them? One, Two! is a cute, colorful, and collaborative experience.

The PJ Library note on the back of the book reminds us that "the story of the great flood is one of the most famous stories in the Torah." They underscore that the "brilliant, bright rainbow," which is in the illustrations, is a "symbol of God's promise to keep the world safe." It is this context that adds a Jewish sensibility to the overall story, giving the reader some additional understanding to share with their little audiences, in an age-appropriate context. As a result, the book is for non-Jewish and Jewish children and families, opening an opportunity to reflect on the classic story or the themes and symbolism through the lens of fun animal images and sounds.

 

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Reviewer Rochelle Newman-Carrasco credits her love of literature to her Lower East Side NYC roots. She is the co-author of ZigZag, a bilingual English-Spanish children's book. She has written for Lilith, The Forward, The Ethel, Off Assignment, The Independent and more. She holds a BFA in Theater from UC Irvine and an MFA from Antioch University, Los Angeles. Rochelle is also a recognized expert in the field of culturally specific marketing and advertising, with an emphasis on diverse cultural segments. She is working on a memoir based on her solo theater show Hip Bones and Cool Whip.