The Quiet Book

Deborah Underwood (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

What a delight! The concept is simple, but so effective ... as the author explains we experience many types of quiet throughout the day. Taking on a variety of moods this book slowly progresses from the lively, "first one awake quiet" to the subdued; towards the end bedtime-type quiet is described as "story time quiet, tucking in Teddy quiet, bedtime kiss quiet, … sound asleep quiet." This succession makes this book a soothing read for nighttime. The text is composed of simple lines that are easy to read, yet so descriptive ... for instance, "jelly side down quiet" (you can almost imagine the room's silence as the bread hits the floor) or "coloring in the lines quiet" (the peaceful contentment children experience as they color in pictures). There is even a “quietness” found in Liwska’s illustrations, which are soft and subtle perfectly reflective of the subject matter. Underwood’s observations combine the traditional with the unexpected – making this book an excellent conservation starter for parents and educators. For instance, ask children to think up other quiet situations or use this book in conjunction with Underwood’s The Loud Book! and spark a discussion of opposites.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli, The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle, or The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

Other books by this author: A Balloon for Isabel, Pirate Mom, and The Loud Book!

Other books by this illustrator: Red Wagon and Little Panda