hanlapham's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
4.0
Category: Online Picture Book
Title: The Sound of Silence
Author: Katrina Goldsaito
Illustrator: Julia Kuo
Date Published: August 2, 2016
Age Appropriateness:
- I think the book can be used for a variety of ages/grade levels. For younger students, it engages them somewhat in another culture and illustrates large city life.
- For older students, it encourages them to think deeper and maybe even appreciate life a little more. This thinking would likely need guidance from the teacher at first and then could transition into self-reflective time.
Summary:
- This story is about a young boy named Yoshio learning his sensei’s favorite sound– silence. Yoshio spends the book searching for the sound of silence. When he finally sits in his classroom, he realizes all along that there is silence everywhere, in every single small moment, you just have to find the small moments for yourself.
Review:
- At first I wasn’t too sure about this book. I mean– can a person ever really find silence? As I reflect, it is actually a really touching book about soaking in each moment and especially appreciating the quick moments that seem to pass us by without notice. I really enjoyed listening to this book online as someone read it for me. It was extremely engaging, especially the sounds that were added in. Yoshio mentions the sounds of puddles and then you hear them. This is a great way to keep students engaged and add interesting elements to a story.
shighley's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book more after I read the Afterword. The connection to Takemitsu/Stravinsky/Kurosawa/Cage deepened my understanding and the way I would use this book. I was actually surprised that the author was female; why do we assume the author is generally the same gender as the main character?
claire_evelyn1's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
shanny1366's review against another edition
4.0
This is a cute story that also presents a bit of Japanese culture. This could be useful for attempting to get children to calm down, if you can read them the story and then have them try to listen for the silence between sounds. The illustrations are colorful with well-defined lines that should keep children's attention.
kwbat12's review against another edition
5.0
Stunning, especially for city folk. Finding silence among the heavy sounds of the city.
thunderbolt_kid's review against another edition
I might get back to you on this one: I thought it was appropriative and problematic, I thought it mythologized Asian cultures. I'm still sitting with it though, and might have more to say?
sherming's review against another edition
3.0
Simple children's book. Schoolboy in Japan is told that a musican's favorite sound is "Ma" or silence. He then tries to discover the sound of silence in his daily life, but it's hard to find amidst all the other sounds. The book asks us to consider what are our favorite sounds and to contemplate where to find silence.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
5.0
This is a lovely book. I love how the artwork reminds me of the '90s anime I grew up on. As someone who often seeks a respite from the noise of the outside world, I can appreciate the concept of ma, the silence between sounds.
k_b00kish's review against another edition
3.0
After encountering a koto musician, a boy in Tokyo takes up the challenge to find silence. Would be good for an Asian, zen or meditation-themed storytime.