Carolyn Crimi

The Louds Move In!

I love to read this book out loud at school visits and conferences. (And when I say out loud, I mean out LOUD.) I can always count on someone coming up to me after I’ve read it and saying, “Our family is the Loud Family!” I guess there are a lot of loud families out there, which is kind of scary when you think about it.

I got the idea for this book at Blockbusters. I was in the parking lot, about to return my movie, when suddenly I heard a HUGE commotion behind me. Honestly, I thought an entire busload of second graders had just pulled in, but it was only a family of four. They were LOUD as they picked out their movie. They were LOUD as they paid for it. And they were LOUD as they got back into their car. At one point I thought, “Oh my gosh, I am so glad I don’t live next to that loud family!”

As soon as I had that thought I knew I had a new picture book idea. It was great fun to write, even though I had to do about four million drafts. Of course I always have to do four million drafts. Nothing new there.

Regan Dunnick’s goofy drawings are fabu! I especially love little Baby Loud, who seems to have the biggest mouth of all.

Reviews:

“Indeed, this crowd pleaser has it all: noise, varied and
practically nonstop; funny names; a personable goldfish;
the word *underwear;* and a huge communal burp as
denouement." Horn Book

“Warmth and good humor abound in this satisfying tale.

” Publishers Weekly

Related Home & Classroom Activities:

Drama

The Louds Move In is perfect for Story Theater. Assign children the following roles: Narrator, Ma Loud, Pa Loud, Barney Loud, Baby Loud, Miss Meekerton, Miss Shushermush, and Mister Pitterpatter. Use props—hats, glasses, pincushions-- for different roles.

Language Arts

In this book Miss Meekerton collects pincushions and Mr. Pitterpatter collects china figurines. Discuss collections with the students. Encourage them to bring their own collections to show to the class. Ask them to write and illustrate a booklet about a collection they own or ask them to write about an imaginary collection that they’d like to own.

Other Loud Books:

Too Loud Lily, by Sofia Laguna and Kerry Argent

Loud Emily, by Alexis O’Neill and Nancy Carpenter

Noisy Nora, by Rosemary Wells



	*The Louds Move In!* I love to read this book out loud at school visits and conferences. (And when I say out loud, I mean out LOUD.) I can always count on someone coming up to me after I’ve read it and saying, “Our family is the Loud Family!” I guess there are a lot of loud families out there, which is kind of scary when you think about it. I got the idea for this book at Blockbusters. I was in the parking lot, about to return my movie, when suddenly I heard a HUGE commotion behind me. Honestly, I thought an entire busload of second graders had just pulled in, but it was only a family of four. They were LOUD as they picked out their movie. They were LOUD as they paid for it. And they were LOUD as they got back into their car. At one point I thought, “Oh my gosh, I am so glad I don’t live next to that loud family!” As soon as I had that thought I knew I had a new picture book idea. It was great fun to write, even though I had to do about four million drafts. Of course I always have to do four million drafts. Nothing new there. Regan Dunnick’s goofy drawings are fabu! I especially love little Baby Loud, who seems to have the biggest mouth of all. Reviews: “Indeed, this crowd pleaser has it all: noise, varied and practically nonstop; funny names; a personable goldfish; the word underwear; and a huge communal burp as denouement." Horn Book “Warmth and good humor abound in this satisfying tale. ” Publishers Weekly Related Home & Classroom Activities: Drama The Louds Move In is perfect for Story Theater. Assign children the following roles: Narrator, Ma Loud, Pa Loud, Barney Loud, Baby Loud, Miss Meekerton, Miss Shushermush, and Mister Pitterpatter. Use props—hats, glasses, pincushions-- for different roles. Language Arts In this book Miss Meekerton collects pincushions and Mr. Pitterpatter collects china figurines. Discuss collections with the students. Encourage them to bring their own collections to show to the class. Ask them to write and illustrate a booklet about a collection they own or ask them to write about an imaginary collection that they’d like to own. Other Loud Books: Too Loud Lily, by Sofia Laguna and Kerry Argent Loud Emily, by Alexis O’Neill and Nancy Carpenter Noisy Nora, by Rosemary Wells