So what was it then?? (A Sound Like Someone Trying Not To Make A Sound - John Irving)

Member Name: kingfisher111

Product:	A Sound Like Someone Trying Not To Make A Sound - John Irving
Date:	23/10/09 (137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lovely picture story book

Disadvantages: none

When I visited the library with my daughters the other day, and while they were happily browsing all the amazing picture books, I found myself drawn to a title that seemed a little familiar although at the time I did not know why. The book was 'A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound' and I slipped it in my daughters' selections in order to take a look at it later. It was only later at home when I realised that the book was written by John Irving that I made the connection.

This children's novel features in John Irving's novel 'A Widow for One Year' and the subsequent film of the book - 'The Door in the Floor' which I have recently watched (and also reviewed). At the time I did not think that such a book really existed but here it was in print in front of me! From what I can make out this story was written by John Irving as a direct consequence of his writing his successful novel.

I love the title of this storybook and so do my daughters, as it is so intriguing. Before you even open up to the first page you can't help wondering what this sound might be. Therefore there was a great deal of anticipation before we even started reading! At the start of the story you see a very remote house at night and the reader is told that:

'Tom woke up, but Tim did not. It was the middle of the night.'

I was a bit worried at this point that the author might be implying that Tim was dead and whether this was then a suitable book to read with my daughters but don't worry - he is not. It is just that Tim slept through whatever it was that caused his brother to stir. Tom then gets out of bed and goes to investigate and also wakes his father as well. His dad asks what this noise sounded like and this leads to some wonderful explanations from Tom. Amongst other things we are told that it sounded like a monster with no arms and legs that was trying to move. It also sounded like one of Tom's mummy's dresses coming alive in the closet and trying to climb off the hanger and the sound of a ghost in the attic dropping the peanuts that he had dropped from the kitchen. Above all though 'it was a sound of someone trying not to make a sound!'

All of this description is absolutely fabulous, as you really can't imagine what the noise would be. Also, all of the text is accompanied by some fantastic illustrations - they are all dark and shadowy and full of lots of possibilities.

As the story progresses, Tim also wakes up and along with their dad they start to establish what might be making the noise. Funnily enough, once he knows what it is, Tom is reassured enough to go back to sleep, but sadly, his two year old brother can't because, his two year old memory does not include knowing what a mouse is!

I think that this is a fascinating story but definitely requires more than one reading as the first time through I felt a bit short changed by the ending which seemed to come on quite abruptly. However, on a second or third read it seems to be much more satisfying. The way that very simple language and ideas are used to build up the mystery is very clever in my mind, as is the simplicity of the boy's imagination. Also, as I have already mentioned, the illustrations are superb. They are dark and mysterious and take up much more space than the words on the pages. Also, virtually every other double paged spread is purely illustration, which really makes the reader stop and pause and take it all in.

We absolutely love all the ideas in this story - all those descriptions of what the sound sounds like are spot on. You really can picture a small child thinking in such a way and struggling to express his thoughts. It also inspired my daughters to come up with their own ideas too. It really is a great idea to inspire imagination although I'm not quite sure about reading it just before bed - probably not a good idea!

The book is available from Amazon for £2.66

Summary: Excellent picture book