Quiet!

by Kate Alizadeh

Sssh! Listen, what s that noise? Each room in a house has different noises and in this book the text and visual clues help a child experience the home through sound, which will be familiar to those children who are blind or partially sighted. The text and sensory clues in this inclusive picture book allow children to experience their home through the many noises it makes. Auditory landmarks help all children become familiar with daily routines, and can be particularly helpful for those with visual impairments. Hardcover format is beautifully presented in a dust jacket and makes a great gift.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Fiction, Kids, Music

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 30, 2017

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very noisy book about a household that's only quiet once a day . . . at bedtime.

A sweet book, with adorable illustrations by the author.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all about noises so you can have some fun with that. The child ends up in bed so it has a bit of a bedtime story feel.

[Ellen Zarate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. We might all be surprised by the symphony that surrounds us if we'd take time away from all the busyness and just quietly listen sometimes.

[Jennifer Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect book to read with a toddler. It's all about noticing the subtle noises of every day; it encourages kids to be quiet and to observe the world around them every now and then. My toddler says "Shhhh! Listen!" like the kid in the book does every time he wants to hear something now. Illustrations are very sweet and clear and there are tons of details to notice and point out, if your toddler's at the stage where they want to name the things they see.

Incidentally, it's also a good book for a progressive children's collection; it depicts a Dad as a primary caregiver, the main character is very neutrally gendered, and the family seems to be black or maybe mixed-race, which is also a great bonus.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soon as I opened up the cover to "Quiet!" and saw the light lavender endpaper with the names of different sounds scattered randomly all around? "Ah!" I thought. "This author is speaking my language."

Sure enough, this toddler-friendly book gives readers some words for many of our everyday experiences. Toddlers are learning so much every day about how the world works, which things we can do, and all the sound-surround-immersion experience of human life (at least for all of us who are blessed with a good sense of hearing).

This lovely book makes me feel glad to be alive... alive in a world that is so sound-rich.

Ssssh! Listen,
what's that noise?

Just might be the sound of FIVE STARS, landing: stars in honor of author and artist Kate Alizadeh.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small child follows various auditory clues to their origins, sometimes finding her father hard at work fixing a meal and sometimes locating all sorts of tech toys making sounds. The book follows her through the day as she listens carefully to identify the sounds and then heads to bed to the familiar and comforting sounds of her father's flip flops smacking against his feet and his kiss goodnight. After all, one never knows what sounds are out there, and what we might hear if we really listen. The colorful images are eye-catching and full of movement, and the pages are filled with onomatopoeia so young readers can emulate the sounds for themselves and maybe find some others in the world around them, if they will only pay attention. This is a good title for sharing aloud with youngsters as it might encourage them to listen carefully but also might give them some idea of how someone who might be blind or partially sighted would navigate through his/her world.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a day in the life of a young child and all the sources of sounds heard during a busy day at home. From the creaky kitchen door in the morning to the zzzz's of sleepy snoring, there is non-stop noise in this house. Alizadeh has made some interesting artistic choices to show in the story, leaving much to discuss: readers will see a father as the child's caregiver all day, note that this is a family of color, and wonder if the child is a boy or girl.

An excellent choice to cuddle, read and giggle together with toddlers.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A celebration of listening to all the different noises you encounter at home during a daily routine. It's not really a book about being quiet - except initially as a lead-in to listening. There is lots of noise - Dad laughs, little brother bangs a spoon, appliances whir, toy cars zoom, toilets flush, dad sings a bedtime lullaby, and the day ends with soft snores. So more a book about mindfulness of all the different noises encountered during a daily routine. Dad is the featured caregiver which is nice.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/24/2017 ** A book for our youngest listeners. It might be fun to read the words and have the children try to guess what is making the noise. It's also interesting to consider the perspective of the child. Everything is over her head.

Finally, another of the books I've notice this year that show the relationship between a child and his or her father. I'm so glad to see more fathers as caregivers in our picture books.

[Laura Radniecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received this book from the publisher Child's Play as part of 2018's Multicultural Children's Book Day event, and we (my toddler son and I) LOVE it!

He is almost two and loves the illustrations as well as all of the noises. I love the diversity in the book, because I know it'll help spark good conversations in the future.

It's a fun, cute book that is quick and perfect for bedtime, or to read during the day if you want to get crazy with the sound effects. :)

[Mia J · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of sentences (if you're not wanting too many words for a child under 1). What I really liked about this book was the empty white space which allowed Mia (3 months) to focus on the picture on the page and she was VERY engaged with it. She became a bit impatient with the length of the book but I had a nice time using all the sounds associated with the objects (scrub for a toothbrush, gurgle for water coming from the faucet).

[Shamekia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute, I love the illustrations, especially the wild curly hair of the kid! This gets points for diversity as the child is brown, the family is mixed, the father is heavily featured, and the kid isn't assigned a gender. Very subtle aspects, but very important and still accessible for all children.

This would be great for a "Quiet and Loud" storytime theme, or just one about families.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are lots of sounds in this book! The illustrations and text guide the reader to determine what is making each of the sounds that are heard throughout the story. Simple yet effective, the colors and images bring this story to life.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book all about noises. The child in the book says, "Shhh...listen. What's that noise?" Then many items are shown along with the noises they make. Each page welcomes the reader to linger and go through the many different noises. A very nice book to take your time with.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for noises, great for pleasingly brown children, great for a caring father and no other caregiver mentioned -- so particularly nice for a single parent household, but not something that is called out. Just lovely.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about all the different sounds a child hears in their house and as they go about their day. Could be a great opportunity to have kids participate and make the sounds of things pictured in the book and also to ask them about the different sounds they hear every day.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

November 2017 - so fun to go through all the noises a house and its people make (and a fun extension would be to think of more noises that aren't in the book, especially at the end when the story becomes quiet).

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concept book about noises that we hear when we’re not talking. Brightly colored illustrations.

Some toddlers may enjoy it. It would also work with young preschoolers and themed story time about the senses & hearing.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lap read that covers the sounds of the day, from afternoon to bedtime. Shows that living in a family, you have to accept the noise made by other people, and sometimes you don't notice your own disruptions. Not a particularly compelling story. Ages 0-3.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young child hears and identifies sounds all over the house.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great one-on-one book to introduce the sense of hearing/listening/noises to toddlers and preK.

[Paige M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shh...listen...what's that noise?

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children will be inspired to be quiet and listen for sounds in their house after sharing this story.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the noises a young child hears in her home in the course of the day. A fun book for sharing.

[Irena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the dad being the caretaker in the story.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book with a Dad as a main character. The story goes from room to room and narrates the noises that are heard around. Lots of onomatopoeia and fun noises to read to young ones.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute simply story. I like how the appliances have the noises around them. Love the illustrations.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A colorful picture books about all the noises you may hear at home. The sound effects are spelled out so you can easily duplicate them for listeners as well.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read aloud, maybe 2's and 3's? I found some of the sound illustrations distracting, but I could see maybe only reading 1 or 2 per page.