“Quiet,” by Tomie DePaola.
Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2018, 32 pages, K-3.
Modern-day America is constantly in motion. People frequently work long hours and children play in numerous sports.
Often, young students are so busy going from one activity to another that they never have time to stop and think about important life questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What can I do for my family and friends?
What would happen if I just stopped being in constant motion? What if I lived part of my day in solitude?
Famed children’s author and illustrator, Tomie DePaola asks all of these questions in this lovely picture book entitled “Quiet.”
A grandfather takes two young children for a walk in a park-like setting. The little girl and young boy immediately see all the lively movements in the woods and lake. Birds are flying, frogs are croaking, dragon flies skim across the water. All is in constant motion. Even the branches on the trees wave to the children as the wind blows across the park. Their dog begins barking at everything there is to see and chase.
But the grandfather wants the children to experience the landscape in a more profound way. It is hard to really notice all the beauty of the plants and animals in the area if they don’t stop and take the time to really see what is all around them. The older gentleman invites the children to sit down on a park bench in the middle of all this beauty.
As they sit looking at everything, they begin to experience something very unusual for them. For one of the first times in their lives, they are quiet. In the stillness, they gain the sense of life at rest. You don’t have to be moving to understand the world. They see the frog sitting by the lake. Content in the warm sun and the pleasant water, the frog doesn’t need things. The birds too are resting.
The girl looks around her at the splendid silence and realizes that she can think because the world is quiet. Sounds and actions are not causing her to be constantly on the move. She finds the quiet to be liberating.
The boy too is experiencing new feelings. He has never noticed many of the small parts of the natural world surrounding them. Since the quiet allows him to reflect, he learns that he can see the beauty of the natural world. Why does all of this become so important for the children?
Have you ever just sat by a lake in the park and watched the ducks and birds flying near the water? Or gone to a city garden and enjoyed the flowers blooming in the spring? Has this experience brought you a sense of peace? If you never have done this, use this book to help you experience the beauty of the unhurried world. To do so, go to the library and check out Tomie DePaola’s beautiful picture book, “Quiet.”
Tomie DePaola is one of the most acclaimed author/illustrators in the history of children’s literature. His books are filled with hope and love. Deeply religious, DePaola has written and illustrated some of the most endearing books ever created about the Blessed Mother. His love for life is shown in his simple, captivating pictures. You just can’t go wrong with a Tomie DePaola book. This is a wonderful book to share with the younger members of your family and will teach the values of slowing down and experiencing the beauty of quiet. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I have!
