Sounds All Around: The Science of How Sound Works. Written by Susan Hughes and illustrated by Ellen Rooney. Kids Can Press, 2021. $19.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Usually you can't see or feel 
an object vibrating. But try 
this: hum loudly while gently 
touching the sides of your 
neck with your fingertips. 

Can you feel the vibrations?"

A small child snoozes in the grass while a dog spends time sniffing the air for arresting smells. A bee intrudes on the silence with its relentless buzz. A flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder sends all scurrying for cover. These are some of the sounds of the natural world. Sit quietly and take note of the many sounds heard and what they mean. 

"Other sounds are made to 
communicate something.

An ambulance siren wailing. 

A school bell clanging. 

An alarm clock ringing.  

Your voice, calling to a friend."

The design is very appealing for its target audience. It begins and ends with the story of a child, a dog, a storm, and the many sounds heard in nature and in the city. As the text moves on to explain the science of sound, Ellen Rooney's graphic illustrations make the information presented clear and accessible for readers. By using curved lines and concentric circles to show sound waves, she shows exaclty how those vibrations help us hear. A graph showing the difference in hearing range for humans and animals makes for  an interesting discussion. It is followed by a chart that compares loud and soft sounds that humans can hear, ranging from 10 to 194 decibels - quite the contrast it provides. As the bee buzzes off home as the storm ends, the author adds an activity to try, and a list of words to know. 

This second book in the Science of How series is informative, enjoyable and instructional.