Yackety Zac

Yackety Zac is a great read aloud for young children as the rhyme just flows throughout this book. This title is a great way to make children aware of their own words, how to have a two-way conversation, and the importance of listening to others more than you speak. The messages of ‘listening to others’ and ‘choosing the right words’ will create amazing conversations for families and classrooms around the importance of speaking and listening.

Kinnaird’s illustrations really highlight this message by portraying Zak’s constant talking as noisy and confusing to others. And the subalty in the illustrations of expressions on other character’s faces when Zak is talking and the talk messages portrayed on wall posters in Doctor Mac’s office really strengthen the main message of the book and create great noticing and talking points for younger children. The story really flows in a fun way with rich language of a mixture of both words young children will know, and new words to discuss with the reader.

I loved this book! What a great way to share such an important message with children.

Title: Yackety Zac

Author: Chris Gurney

Illustrator: Ross Kinnaird

Publisher: One Tree House

ISBN: 978-0-9951064-5-1

RRP: $27.00

Format: Paperback

Date of Publication: October 2018

Age Range: Picture Book

Reviewer’s Name: Angela Thompson

Reviewer’s Job Title: Library Lead Teacher

Reviewer’s School Name: Remarkables Primary School

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

First sentence: Zachary Black went yackety-yak as he entered the world like a shot.

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