Silence by Lena Shamshurina

 

"Shh ... I'm looking for silence. It must be lurking around here somewhere."

Silence can be hard to find during the day because there are so many sounds in the city. Perhaps it will be easier at night. The illustration shows this is not easier - the fridge is humming, the clock is ticking, the tap is dripping and someone is snoring. (All of this reminded me of Peace at Last by Jill Murphy). There is no silence in the day and none at night in his house so the little boy sets off into the forest but your young reading companion is sure to anticipate that the forest will be full of noise which we once again see in the interesting black and white illustrations. An owl is hooting, a wolf is howling, and badger is chewing and even the blue bell flowers are going ting tinga ling. Next stop a cave but of course the echoes of the boys own footsteps and words fill this space with sound. He tries going underwater and then into outer space. Space! Finally, a place of silence.

This is a strange book and it is very expensive here in Australia (AUS$35) so perhaps it is just one you might explore in your local library rather than add it to your library collection. I did love the art and the 'silent pages' filled with images making sounds. Take a look at the Kirkus review. I also enjoy the interactive moment at the end of the book where you are invited to run your finger across the page to hear the way this book makes sounds too. 

Bookseller blurb: In this beautifully designed high-concept picture book, an unnamed narrator invites readers on a journey to find the secrets held by silence. Whether it's the echoes in an underground cave, whales singing in the ocean, or even your own stomach gurgling - readers will discover the secret sounds surrounding us, and how even the places where we might expect to find silence are not quiet at all. As the initial hunt for silence turns into a thoughtful, clever examination of sound and space, this engaging story encourages participation and careful observation of the world around us. Filled with evocative black and white illustration and quirky details that will reward multiple readings, this is a title that will inspire discussion - and makes a great bedtime read aloud too.

See inside this book here. 

Lena Shamshurina is an illustrator & author based in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

The Night Walk by Marie Dorléans Translated by Polly Lawson

It is the middle of the night. Mum wakes up the two children. There is no grumbling. The family set off in the into the darkness. They can hear the crickets and smell the honeysuckle. The big hotel is still awake and the last house in the village "was almost asleep. It had one eye open."

The small group of four keeping walking out of the village and up the path through the forest. At the lake they see a wondrous sight of the full moon reflected in the water but this is not their final destination. Mum suggests they lie down on the grass to see the "vast, glittering sky." After a short rest the family continue their climb up the hillside over rocks guided only by torch light. 

"We got there just in time. We watched for a moment. And then ..."

Where were they going?  Why did they walk through the night? What did they see?

This beautiful and evocative book movingly recalls family trips and the excitement of unknown adventure, while celebrating the awe-inspiring power of the natural world. Floris Books

Never hurried, this eloquent story is a beautifully measured tale not unlike one giant inhale (the journey) followed by a long, happy exhale (the closing spreads). Pick up a copy and make a night of it. Julie Danielson for BookPage

The Night Walk (French title Nous Avons Rendez-vous) was awarded the Prix Landerneau, in the best children's picture book category.  Marie Dorléans is the author of The Epic Race.

The Sound of Silence by Katrina Goldsaito illustrated by Julia Kuo

It was between and underneath every sound.

And it had been there all along.

Ma

silence.

Yoshio lives in Tokyo. He meets a musician and asks "do you have a favourite sound?"  The musician says the most beautiful sound is the sound of ma, the sound of silence. 

Yoshio listens to all the sounds in this busy city. The traffic, boots splashing through puddles, rain on umbrellas, the wind in the bamboo, the whoosh of the bullet train and even the sound of chopsticks, slurping and chewing dinner with his family. Finally Yoshio goes to bed but even that is not quiet as there is a radio playing in the background. The next morning Yoshio heads off to school. He arrives very early. Inside he sits at his desk and reads a book.

"Suddenly in the middle of a page, he hear it.
No sounds, no footsteps, no people chattering, no radios, no bamboo, no kotos being tuned.
In that short moment, Yoshio couldn't even hear the sound of his own breath."

The splendid school library I visit each week like to add stickers to the front cover of their books for all sorts of book awards from around the world.  This book had an award I had not seen before. The Sound of Silence was shortlisted for the Red Dot Book award 2017-2018. This award started in 2009 and is awarded through voting by school libraries in Singapore.

Past winners which I have mentioned on this blog:

2016-7 Picture book shortlist On Sudden Hill; Younger Readers winner Diva and Flea; Older Readers winner The Thing about Jellyfish.

2015-6 Younger readers winner Pigsticks and Harold.

2014-5 Older Readers The Fourteenth Goldfish, 3rd Place Rooftoppers.

The 2018-19 award will be presented in May 2019.  I spied The elephant and Juana and Lucas on the Younger Readers list and Tin and The Goldfish boy on the Older Readers list.

I would pair The Sound of Silence with The Sound of Colours and Silence by Lemniscates. Take time to read this detailed review in Horn Book which explains the way the illustrator has used colours to show the city noises. Listen to an excellent All the wonders Podcast  where you can hear the author and illustrator talking in depth about the processes and challenges of creating this book. You can see some pages from the illustrator of The Sound of Silence here.

An inviting tale that will stretch inquisitive and observant young minds—and may even lead children to a greater appreciation of that golden commodity, silence. Kirkus

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood illustrated by Renata Liwska

A few months ago a friend, who is also a bookseller, told me about The Quiet Book. The title only partly tells you about this special book. Inside it is truly magical.

It is a series of little scenes from early morning until late at night showing all the times we experience quiet and all the ways we experience it too.

Here are some :

Coloring in the lines quiet

Last one to get picked up from school quiet

Making a wish quiet

Best friends don’t need to talk quiet

Before the concert starts quiet

Story time quiet

Bedtime kiss quiet

“What flashlight?” quiet

Sound asleep quiet

The illustrations depict quirky little animals like bears, a porcupine, moose and rabbit all done in soft brown and grey tones with an occasional tiny touch of colour.

This book would make wonderful gift for a young child and it is a perfect book to share with that same young child either quietly or with some gentle conversation about each scene.

Stylish, funny, yet sympathetic, this should be a popular bedtime book. Quill and Quire

It is in our school library along with the companion volume The Loud Book. You might also enjoy The Important book and Another Important book by Margaret Wise Brown and If you listen by Charlotte Zolotow.