Mice squeak, but I speak, says the first of three children who lead us through a menagerie of animals and the sounds they make. Purring cats, snoring bears, mooing cows and quacking ducks are among the many animals pictured in bold, bright colors.

The simple rhyming text begs to be read aloud, and children will pick up the rhythm and shout out the sounds -- baas, roars, howls and hoots -- as they go from page to page, over and over again.

Tomie dePaola's charming folk-art style brilliantly captures each animal in its surroundings, set against a border of striking color and design.

A perfect first book for sharing with the young.