I thought this was a picture book. Technically it is but it’s also a type of encyclopedia on what makes sound sound. How does sound work? How do you hear? What causes different sounds to happen. It’s about more than just music, more than just being loud, but about the sound you hear and sound in your heart. The illustrations are fantastic. They make the book enjoyable and memorable and not feel like homework.

The science of sound – from what it is and how our ears hear it, to trivia about birdsong, cetacean communication, language and so much more. We also dip into prehistory, ancient Greece, and the Middle Ages to see – sorry, hear – what they would have sounded like. It does actually kind of hang together, even if everything from decibel levels to ASL is on these pages, but the creator is clearly as intent on doing artful designs as they are conveying the actual science. The spread about recorded sound sent me in all directions before I worked out the proper reading order. Apart from that the look doesn't fully get in the way, and if you can cope with the multiple font sizes and colours per page you will be able to learn a lot, as this packs a lot in for an older-primary-school volume. I would have preferred it to have been different, but I still think it's a four star read.

An in-depth look for children at a phenomenon that surrounds us, in every sense of the word. Author Olga Fadeeva introduces young readers to the concept of sound and the many ways that it shapes our lives, as well as our unique and changing relationship with it. The book alks about both natural and artificial sounds and their relationship to human communication, including the way that people have created instruments to make music. Fadeeva also shows the unique way sounds are made in the animal world across different species. Interspersed throughout the book are hands-on activities for kids to try on their own, experimenting with how sound travels.


The author, who is also the illustrator, inserts some quirky design choices that cleverly reflect the subject matter, such as placing facts about the development of the telephone inside an outline of a telephone model. Some of the best illustrations include the diagrams of how sound travels through the air and into our ears, the number line depicting decibels and the common sounds that people hear at each point and the overview of the devices that people use to record sound, which was also one of my favorite passages. The evolution from Victrolas to CDs to MP3s is a great opportunity for adults to share with children some of the ways that they listened to music in the past versus now, and to possibly demonstrate these methods with kids. One of the great appeals of the book is the author's discussion of the symbolism of sound, the effects that certain sound combinations have on our memory. The passage about how changes in sounds can evoke either positive or negative emotions is an important one which can also lead to deep discussions with children.

There is a great deal of information and trivia in here, and the book is very text-heavy as a result, which does crowd the pages. Wordiness is not necessarily an issue by itself, but the small font size and the color choice of the text does make some pages difficult to read. I like the way that the text is manipulated at times to mimic sound waves, but it can be a little distracting when there's such a great deal of it. Organizing some of the text, such as the themed facts, into bullet points would make it easier to read and for children to follow along with. I enjoyed the inclusive information about those who are unable to hear sound and the way in which they navigate the world, and would have liked to have seen more pages about it, especially for young readers themselves who may be deaf or hard of hearing.


I would have liked to see more ethnic diversity within the illustrations, as well as within the book's overall perspective. Even though the book takes a global historical approach to sound, the perspective still tends to skew in a particular direction and from a particular lens. For example, the section on cultures in the ancient world and how they created musical instruments looks at Ancient Greece, while the passages about the Early Modern Period and the period composers' approach to sound focuses on Europe. Although they are mentioned somewhat, detailing other cultures and their approach to playing music (in their arrangement of their orchestras, musicians and instruments common in their parts of the world) would have provided a great opportunity for children to learn different musical perspectives than their own. Similarly, the section about animal sounds in different countries includes many common ones, such as the U.S., Germany, Japan, etc. Including the sounds from lesser-known countries (the ones that don't show up often in similar children's literature) would be beneficial, as well.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

This book is SO great! It’s full of great illustrations and so much information. I’ll be purchasing a copy of this book to read again with my kiddos as soon as it’s published!

What a wonderfully informative book about the basics of sound. There are some really wonderful “Try It” ideas that I will be doing with my children at home. I know they will love it. Most likely we will read this book in sections more than as an all at once read aloud.

The illustrations are beautiful and I love how they provide a visual conceptualization for how sound works and what sound is. There is information on the history of sound and inventions related to sound, plus it covers animals, places, and music. This book really covers such a wide base of information. Definitely a book to return to with your children to help them glean more each time.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Some of the pages are pretty text-heavy, especially compared to the early ones, that are overly simplistic. I really enjoyed the sections about the birds, whales, and other animals.

This would pair well with other science or animal books for kids who are interested in learning more.

Thank you for the ARC. I will purchase for my library and share.

I just finished the book and I really enjoyed it! The illustrations are lovely and really bring the content to life. This book takes readers through the science of sound, diving into so many aspects—from how sound travels to the different ways we experience it through history. It kept me engaged throughout!

What I love most about this book is its ability to make complex concepts accessible for kids. It really encourages kids to stop and listen to the world around them. My favorite page was the one that highlighted how different countries around the world perceive animal sounds! Like here in the US, we say that roosters make a “cock-a-doodle doo” sound, whereas in Germany, it’s “kikekiri!”

One thing I wasn’t a fan of was the font type they chose for the headings on each page. It didn’t quite match the overall aesthetic of the book. However, the content and flow were great, making it easy to read and understand. The book is a fun and educational book that really inspires curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the auditory world around us.


Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book!

Another beautiful children's book translated from the Russian by Olga Fadeeva!

Sound is a book that features SOUND as the main theme, teaching children where it comes from, what it is, what are different sounds... This book is lovely because it contains some beautiful illustrations and stays nice and light hearted for kids, whilst also covering musicology, physics, technology. and language, which is really, really cool.