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Hearing Things: TOON Level Two
40 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2024
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 30, 2024
Really nice artwork with a (its a TOON book!) simplistic storyline. I felt like it could have been a bit more creative.
September 8, 2024
Great introductory comic book for kids. The illustrations are bright and concise as well as the speech bubbles easy to read. I liked this story and found the spooky twist very cute. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.
September 3, 2024
Fun, simple, visually appealing. A classic TOON book -- but not anything groundbreaking.
September 2, 2024
“This is spooky,” followed by a giggle is probably the best review from my 5-year old daughter.
Tim and his cat, Frankie, set out to help Tim’s big sister find sounds in nature to use in a song she’s making.
As my daughter is too young, I read most of the words but pointed to the item and she would make the sound. This turned into a fun game that had us both laughing. Enjoyable story about sibling bonds, the sounds found in our world, and an added bonus of the seasonal “Spooky” flavor.
Tim and his cat, Frankie, set out to help Tim’s big sister find sounds in nature to use in a song she’s making.
As my daughter is too young, I read most of the words but pointed to the item and she would make the sound. This turned into a fun game that had us both laughing. Enjoyable story about sibling bonds, the sounds found in our world, and an added bonus of the seasonal “Spooky” flavor.
August 28, 2024
A sweet and very lightly spooky kid's graphic novel. Really great onomatopoeia and lettering, and really lovely and compelling art—especially the ghost skeletons, I loved them and wished they weren't invisible most of the time! I also love that the artsy musician sister, like all artsy musician sisters in all children's media, I'm pretty sure, casually wears a beret at all times.
November 1, 2024
Tim and his sister are new in town. Tim likes to record interesting sounds he's encountered during his daily walks and incorporate them into his sister's music which is inspired by horror movies. However his sister is feeling uninspired and depressed. Martha has had trouble making friends since their move and is considering quitting music altogether.
Tim, joined by his cat, Frankie, decides to explore a creepy abandoned house in hopes of capturing some spooky sound effects that will bring Martha out of her depression. Yet when Tim and Frankie climb over the estate's stone fence they discover that the entire area is devoid of sound. How can Tim prevent his sister from quitting music, which is her passion, if he cannot record any scary sounds?
Hearing Things was an awesome read by newcomer Ben Spears. I thought it would be a quaint little read for the month of October. I wasn't aware of how explosive a read it was going to be. Tim's cat Frankie steals the show. Such a funny character with so much life and energy. I couldn't stop marveling at Frankie.
Not to ruin the surprise, but this book ends up being a ghost story with charm and decorum. The pair of spooks might look a little scary. But they're harmless. In fact, one of them gets startled by Frankie.
I hope this isn't the last we see of Tim and Frankie. I probably would be okay without a return of the ghosts, though they were great characters as well. I just think it would be wrong to never get more of the pantomimes of Frankie the Cat or another recording session of sounds with Tim.
This 2024 book is part of the Toon Books series edited by Francoise Mouly. I've been a fan of these books which introduce readers to dynamic new creators as well as translated readers from across the globe that would have been ignored by American readers without the efforts of Mouly.
Spooky. Charming. Funny. A read that might produce a few chills but has a heartwarming ending as well as some unforgettable characters. Hearing Things is a book perfect for this time of year and is sure to become an annual classic.
Tim, joined by his cat, Frankie, decides to explore a creepy abandoned house in hopes of capturing some spooky sound effects that will bring Martha out of her depression. Yet when Tim and Frankie climb over the estate's stone fence they discover that the entire area is devoid of sound. How can Tim prevent his sister from quitting music, which is her passion, if he cannot record any scary sounds?
Hearing Things was an awesome read by newcomer Ben Spears. I thought it would be a quaint little read for the month of October. I wasn't aware of how explosive a read it was going to be. Tim's cat Frankie steals the show. Such a funny character with so much life and energy. I couldn't stop marveling at Frankie.
Not to ruin the surprise, but this book ends up being a ghost story with charm and decorum. The pair of spooks might look a little scary. But they're harmless. In fact, one of them gets startled by Frankie.
I hope this isn't the last we see of Tim and Frankie. I probably would be okay without a return of the ghosts, though they were great characters as well. I just think it would be wrong to never get more of the pantomimes of Frankie the Cat or another recording session of sounds with Tim.
This 2024 book is part of the Toon Books series edited by Francoise Mouly. I've been a fan of these books which introduce readers to dynamic new creators as well as translated readers from across the globe that would have been ignored by American readers without the efforts of Mouly.
Spooky. Charming. Funny. A read that might produce a few chills but has a heartwarming ending as well as some unforgettable characters. Hearing Things is a book perfect for this time of year and is sure to become an annual classic.
September 13, 2024
Ben Sears’ books have always been kid-friendly, and I’d recommend any of them (Plus Man & Hank, Young Shadow) to readers of all ages. But this one is truly for kids—1st and 2nd graders, mostly. TOON Books™ come with tips for parents and teachers; they’re kind of scholastic in their presentation and packaging.
The story features a young boy (Tim) enamored with field recording; he enjoys exploring his environment with his cat Frankie and capturing interesting sounds on tape, microphone in hand. After a morning’s adventure, Tim is excited to share his finds with Martha, a budding songwriter, but finds that she’s not much in the mood—feeling a bit down about being new to town and not having many friends. To help inspire Martha, he sets out to capture some spooky sounds to complement her latest creepy, offbeat song.
Guess what: When not cartooning, Sears is passionate about sound recording and music! The first page alone is classic Sears. I just wasn’t crazy about the story, which is a bit simplistic and contrived. Tim’s an adventurer and could lead us anywhere, yet we already know where we’re headed just a few pages in, when he approaches an old, haunted-looking mansion. (The invocation of ‘ghosts’ in the storyline called back to Sears’ House of the Black Spot, in which ghosts were a particularly creaky plot point.) Meanwhile, the back cover says that Martha is Tim’s big sister, but I thought she was just a friend—I’m not convinced the author intended a familial relationship! Curing a friend’s depression is an awkward burden to carry for a children’s book… Both characters give up in the face of adversity, then get rewarded for it.
This is a 28-page, full-color comic in hardcover format (6.25" x 9.25"). The series editor & designer is Françoise Mouly, who supplies a rather ‘busy’ visual aesthetic.
The story features a young boy (Tim) enamored with field recording; he enjoys exploring his environment with his cat Frankie and capturing interesting sounds on tape, microphone in hand. After a morning’s adventure, Tim is excited to share his finds with Martha, a budding songwriter, but finds that she’s not much in the mood—feeling a bit down about being new to town and not having many friends. To help inspire Martha, he sets out to capture some spooky sounds to complement her latest creepy, offbeat song.
Guess what: When not cartooning, Sears is passionate about sound recording and music! The first page alone is classic Sears. I just wasn’t crazy about the story, which is a bit simplistic and contrived. Tim’s an adventurer and could lead us anywhere, yet we already know where we’re headed just a few pages in, when he approaches an old, haunted-looking mansion. (The invocation of ‘ghosts’ in the storyline called back to Sears’ House of the Black Spot, in which ghosts were a particularly creaky plot point.) Meanwhile, the back cover says that Martha is Tim’s big sister, but I thought she was just a friend—I’m not convinced the author intended a familial relationship! Curing a friend’s depression is an awkward burden to carry for a children’s book… Both characters give up in the face of adversity, then get rewarded for it.
This is a 28-page, full-color comic in hardcover format (6.25" x 9.25"). The series editor & designer is Françoise Mouly, who supplies a rather ‘busy’ visual aesthetic.
February 8, 2025
This Level 2 Easy-to-Read Toon Comic Book will be a welcome addition to not-to-scary literature for the kiddoes.
Tim and his sister Martha have just moved into the neighborhood and have not made any friends yet. Martha is lost on how to meet people. When Tim suggests she enter the school talent show, she rejects that. Tim takes his cat Frankie out for a walk, seeking spooky sounds to go with a song he wants Martha to write and perform for the show. Frankie slips into a scary-looking house and talks the two ghosts who live there into making noises for Tim to record.
Sears captures just enough suspense and shows Tim as being scared in the house. This is about as scary as Alvin Schwarts' book Ghosts!, making it just about right for younger kiddoes seeking a "scary book". With the graphic novel format, readers will see that Frankie is behind asking the ghosts to make the noises for Tim, as he keeps pointing Tim to another room with noisy activity. All good fun.
Recommended for emerging readers in grades K-3.
Tim and his sister Martha have just moved into the neighborhood and have not made any friends yet. Martha is lost on how to meet people. When Tim suggests she enter the school talent show, she rejects that. Tim takes his cat Frankie out for a walk, seeking spooky sounds to go with a song he wants Martha to write and perform for the show. Frankie slips into a scary-looking house and talks the two ghosts who live there into making noises for Tim to record.
Sears captures just enough suspense and shows Tim as being scared in the house. This is about as scary as Alvin Schwarts' book Ghosts!, making it just about right for younger kiddoes seeking a "scary book". With the graphic novel format, readers will see that Frankie is behind asking the ghosts to make the noises for Tim, as he keeps pointing Tim to another room with noisy activity. All good fun.
Recommended for emerging readers in grades K-3.
August 23, 2024
Review from my little sister:
Tim and his cat, Frankie, enjoy recording sounds around the neighborhood, but his sister Martha is in a bad mood because she doesn't have any friends. To make friends, Martha was originally going to write a song for the talent show, but she gave up on it. To motivate Martha, Tim and Frankie decide to record spooky sounds for Martha's song.
This book was a short and sweet read. I'm not kidding when I say short. There are about as many words in this review as there are in the book, but that doesn't stop it from being a fantastic read! If you needed clarification as to why Martha needed spooky sounds of all things for her song, it was because Martha is this goth girl-type girl, and she loves writing spooky songs. The art style reminded me of Charlie Brown, who I loved a lot. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a short and sweet read.
Tim and his cat, Frankie, enjoy recording sounds around the neighborhood, but his sister Martha is in a bad mood because she doesn't have any friends. To make friends, Martha was originally going to write a song for the talent show, but she gave up on it. To motivate Martha, Tim and Frankie decide to record spooky sounds for Martha's song.
This book was a short and sweet read. I'm not kidding when I say short. There are about as many words in this review as there are in the book, but that doesn't stop it from being a fantastic read! If you needed clarification as to why Martha needed spooky sounds of all things for her song, it was because Martha is this goth girl-type girl, and she loves writing spooky songs. The art style reminded me of Charlie Brown, who I loved a lot. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who wants a short and sweet read.
June 26, 2024
This is a kids book about a kid who is walking around his town collecting sounds. He goes to show his sister but she is depressed about not being able to make friends her own age. Her brother says she should join the talent show with her song but she is not for it so he goes around town looking for scary sounds and comes across a haunted house. This is a great story about helping his sister and finding cool sounds to use in music.
October 11, 2024
🎧 Tim’s older sister, Martha, loves making creepy music but needs more scary sound effects to make something truly worthwhile. When his cat, Frankie, hops the fence to a haunted house, Tim has his sound-capturing gear ready to record all the unsettling ongoings that Martha could possibly need.
This book may be a little frightening for some but they keep the spooky stuff pretty mellow, perfect for a younger audience. I can definitely see Peanut enjoying this collection in the future.
This book may be a little frightening for some but they keep the spooky stuff pretty mellow, perfect for a younger audience. I can definitely see Peanut enjoying this collection in the future.
September 13, 2024
A curious cat, a young sound engineer, a sister that writes scary songs, a genuine haunted house, and tons of onomatopoeia make this a great pick for young adventurous early readers looking for elements of both spooky & cute in their comics. Backmatter includes helpful tips for parents and teachers on how to jump into reading comics with kids.
October 20, 2024
Yes, graphic novels are popular, but that doesn't get authors a pass to create bad ones. Best use for this would be teaching Onomatopoeia as there are repeated "caw caw," and "groan," and "glub glub" books all the way through the book since the MC is collecting sounds for his depressed teenage sister to use in her song styling.
August 27, 2024
*NetGalley ARC* (thank you!)
I can see this as a good introduction to comics/graphic novels for younger folks. This book was relatively short and the story was not hard to follow. The story panels were clear cut and the art was engaging.
I can see this as a good introduction to comics/graphic novels for younger folks. This book was relatively short and the story was not hard to follow. The story panels were clear cut and the art was engaging.
May 15, 2025
Tim likes to record sounds, and his big sister Marie likes to make spooky music. When Tim and his cat Frank pass a spooky house, Tim finds far too many creepy sounds in this fun spooky graphic novel for younger readers.
October 17, 2024
I wish I had a cool goth sister who made experimental art rock using sounds collected from a haunted house.
October 24, 2024
Strip o dečku ki snema zvoke v eni stari hiši kjer straši - fino je kako so vsi zvoki narisani, da jih res slišiš. Je pa to knjiga za mlajše bralce, ma vseeno super narisano in luštno branje :)
November 11, 2024
Great illustrations but not very imaginative story. Also felt that for a level 2 Toon Book the text was too small.
December 13, 2024
A boy records scary sounds created by inhabitants of a haunted house.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews