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چرا این قدر ساکتی؟
Into a world where it often seems nobody is listening comes a poignant story that celebrates the power of silence.
“Why are you so quiet?� Her teacher implores it, her classmates shout it, even her mom wonders it. Everyone, it seems, is concerned for Myra Louise. So, in search of an answer to the tiresome question nobody will stop asking, she invents a listening machine. If the raindrops, or the crickets, or the dryers at the laundromat can tell her why ٳ’r so quiet, maybe Myra Louise can finally make everybody understand. But the more she listens, the less interested she becomes in finding any answer at all. Because Myra Louise comes to realize that all she really needs is someone else to listen alongside her.
“Why are you so quiet?� Her teacher implores it, her classmates shout it, even her mom wonders it. Everyone, it seems, is concerned for Myra Louise. So, in search of an answer to the tiresome question nobody will stop asking, she invents a listening machine. If the raindrops, or the crickets, or the dryers at the laundromat can tell her why ٳ’r so quiet, maybe Myra Louise can finally make everybody understand. But the more she listens, the less interested she becomes in finding any answer at all. Because Myra Louise comes to realize that all she really needs is someone else to listen alongside her.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2020
1 person is currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Jaclyn Desforges
3books6followersJACLYN DESFORGES is the author of a poetry collection, Danger Flower (Palimpsest Press, 2021) and a picture book, Why Are You So Quiet? (Annick Press, 2020). Jaclyn is a Pushcart-nominated writer and the winner of the 2018 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices award, the 2019 Hamilton Public Library Freda Waldon Award for Fiction, the 2019 Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd. Award for Poetry, and a 2020 Hamilton Emerging Artist Award for Writing. Her first chapbook, Hello Nice Man, was published by Anstruther Press in 2019. Jaclyn’s writing has been featured in Room Magazine, THIS Magazine, The Puritan, The Fiddlehead, Contemporary Verse 2, Minola Review and others. She is an MFA candidate at the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing and lives in Hamilton with her partner and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 13, 2020
Everyone that Myra Louise knows keeps asking her why she is so quiet, from her teacher, to her classmates, and even her mom, everyone wants to know. Everyone. Myra Louise has no answer, but she begins to search for the answer to the never-ending question by going to the Laundromat and listening to the quietest dryer, and asking the dryer why it is so quiet, but it is hard to hear an answer, the only sounds she hears are the sounds of clothes tumbling around inside.
So she reads books about inventing and tinkering and building, and before long she’s made a listening machine.
When the raindrops begin, she takes her listening machine outside and turns it on, and whispers her question, asking the rain why it is so quiet? And while she isn’t answered in words, the sound of the rain is so captivating she stays and listens. And when the rain stops, she turns on her listening machine once more, and then listens to the music of the crickets� evening song.
Sharing what she’s ‘captured� on her machine is her way to show others why she’s so quiet, and what can be discovered by listening, and Myra Louise finds how much joy there is in sharing her experience, and finding a friend who appreciates the value of listening.
With charming, lovely illustrations this story encourages such a wonderful value in young children. Listening, thinking, and watching the world around us adds value to all the things we say, and do. And, really, wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone would listen ?
Published: 08 Sep 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Annick Press Ltd., Annick Press
So she reads books about inventing and tinkering and building, and before long she’s made a listening machine.
When the raindrops begin, she takes her listening machine outside and turns it on, and whispers her question, asking the rain why it is so quiet? And while she isn’t answered in words, the sound of the rain is so captivating she stays and listens. And when the rain stops, she turns on her listening machine once more, and then listens to the music of the crickets� evening song.
Sharing what she’s ‘captured� on her machine is her way to show others why she’s so quiet, and what can be discovered by listening, and Myra Louise finds how much joy there is in sharing her experience, and finding a friend who appreciates the value of listening.
With charming, lovely illustrations this story encourages such a wonderful value in young children. Listening, thinking, and watching the world around us adds value to all the things we say, and do. And, really, wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone would listen ?
Published: 08 Sep 2020
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Annick Press Ltd., Annick Press
March 22, 2025
ماری لوئیس نمیدانس� چه جوابی به آنه� بدهد.
خب، این طوری او هرروز ساکتت� و خجالتیت� میش�.
خب، این طوری او هرروز ساکتت� و خجالتیت� میش�.
June 2, 2020
Why Are You So Quiet? by Jaclyn Desforges is a lovely ode to the introverted. In an increasingly loud world that seems to reward the extroverted, those whose natural inclination is toward quiet are often seen as odd and unrelatable. Myra Louise, like most introverts, is tired of being asked why she is so quiet, and sets out to seek answers from other mostly silent entities. But the deeper Myra Louise delves into this question, the more she is empowered by an ability to really listen to what can often be expressed without the need for any words at all. This is a powerful story that will ring true for any child whose quietness has ever made them feel different in a hectic and noisy world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press Ltd. for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press Ltd. for the opportunity to read this ARC.
June 2, 2020
Thank you Netgally and the author for the gifted copy, all thoughts are completely my own.
I thought this book was pretty cute and the illustrations are beautiful. I realize this is a children's book but I was under the impression it was building up to something but nothing happened. The way it ended as well seemed "unfinished".
3 stars
I thought this book was pretty cute and the illustrations are beautiful. I realize this is a children's book but I was under the impression it was building up to something but nothing happened. The way it ended as well seemed "unfinished".
3 stars
February 4, 2021
The How (I Felt)
So I am not a quiet person myself (except when I want to be, like when I am reading); and have never been (or think I will be) asked the question in this book’s title: Why Are You So Quiet? But I know many who are, and totally love and appreciate them. If everyone is ‘not quiet�, then who will be listening? But jokes aside, each person is different, and learning to understand and accept, more importantly appreciate those differences is what is needed. Bear in mind that this acceptance, appreciation, and understanding needs to happen on all sides � from within and from others. And why should the quiet ones be labeled different anyway? Aren’t the talkative ones different for the quiet ones too?
Anyways, personal thoughts aside, here are my thoughts about the book itself. It is a beautiful, beautiful book about Myra Louise, the one qho is quiet; and it has illustrations that wonderfully complement the encouraging, gentle and lyrical text.
As Myra Louise tries to answer that question everyone around her asks of her, she learns a lot about who she is. She is an observer, a reader, a thinker, a tinkerer, and of course, a listener! And with each thing she learns, she wants to share it with others as well. I loved how the soft, soothing colors of the expressive artwork brighten as we turn the pages � shifting from pastel to bright � along with all the joy and acceptance that Myra discovers for herself.
Perfect Pairing
While Love Your Body is aimed for a slightly older audience than ‘Why Are You So Quiet?�, it still conveys the message about finding joy and acceptance in who you are.
In Summary
A great book for all readers � the quiet ones and the not-so-quiet ones � to learn the joys of listening and simply being.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
So I am not a quiet person myself (except when I want to be, like when I am reading); and have never been (or think I will be) asked the question in this book’s title: Why Are You So Quiet? But I know many who are, and totally love and appreciate them. If everyone is ‘not quiet�, then who will be listening? But jokes aside, each person is different, and learning to understand and accept, more importantly appreciate those differences is what is needed. Bear in mind that this acceptance, appreciation, and understanding needs to happen on all sides � from within and from others. And why should the quiet ones be labeled different anyway? Aren’t the talkative ones different for the quiet ones too?
Anyways, personal thoughts aside, here are my thoughts about the book itself. It is a beautiful, beautiful book about Myra Louise, the one qho is quiet; and it has illustrations that wonderfully complement the encouraging, gentle and lyrical text.
As Myra Louise tries to answer that question everyone around her asks of her, she learns a lot about who she is. She is an observer, a reader, a thinker, a tinkerer, and of course, a listener! And with each thing she learns, she wants to share it with others as well. I loved how the soft, soothing colors of the expressive artwork brighten as we turn the pages � shifting from pastel to bright � along with all the joy and acceptance that Myra discovers for herself.
Perfect Pairing
While Love Your Body is aimed for a slightly older audience than ‘Why Are You So Quiet?�, it still conveys the message about finding joy and acceptance in who you are.
In Summary
A great book for all readers � the quiet ones and the not-so-quiet ones � to learn the joys of listening and simply being.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
July 12, 2020
NOTE: AN EBOOK COPY OF THIS BOOK WAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
Read together June 27, 2020
Rating: 3/5 stars
Book #31 in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge
Logan and I recently enjoyed an ebook copy of “Why Are You So Quiet?� by Jaclyn Desforges, with art by Risa Hugo. This book is slated for publication by Annick Press in September 2020, so we were fortunate to have early access to the book via NetGalley.
The story of Myra Louise reminded me very much of my own childhood, as I was known as “the quiet one� (and still am to a large degree). Although I was never teased or bullied because of my bookish introversion, I know people were thinking “Does she even know how to talk?� My physical presence was “forgotten� many times because I was too busy observing and listening to the people around me instead of talking and interacting with them. In other words, this is probably one of the most relatable children’s books I’ve ever read.
Myra Louise and I know the pain of having to explain to others why we prefer books to people, and silence to talking. Introverts like us can provide a very simple answer to the annoying question “Why are you so quiet?� It’s nothing earth-shattering, yet the extroverts among us are often confounded by the simple truth: the world is much too loud � and life seems to make more sense when we are listening, not talking. Not to mention how much more we can learn about the world around us when we get quiet for a while.
Overall, Logan and I enjoyed the book, the message, and the beautiful illustrations; however, we couldn’t rate the book higher than 3 stars for at least two reasons. One, we felt the limitations of the ebook format hampered our experience of the book. The artwork is one of the better elements of this title, and it just wasn’t as easy to view and inspect it in ebook format. If we had a physical copy, we are sure we would rate the book one star higher. (Of course, this is no fault of the title itself, it’s just the only option we had at the moment and it does impact our review).
Two, we felt there could have been more time devoted to Myra Louise’s listening machine adventures. The concept of a young child being an inventor is pretty unique and the story just fell a little flat in places. This is not a major complaint, but sometimes children’s books seem a little too short, and I think this one could have been expanded by at least a few pages. Again, a good experience, and we are grateful for the chance to read the book months before publication. We hope to read it someday in print because ebook format wasn’t satisfactory for this title.
It’s a great book for children who might be self-conscious about their quiet personalities, or for children who are trying to understand their more introverted peers. It also serves as a talking point to encourage being comfortable in our own skin � no matter what the world expects of us.
Read together June 27, 2020
Rating: 3/5 stars
Book #31 in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge
Logan and I recently enjoyed an ebook copy of “Why Are You So Quiet?� by Jaclyn Desforges, with art by Risa Hugo. This book is slated for publication by Annick Press in September 2020, so we were fortunate to have early access to the book via NetGalley.
The story of Myra Louise reminded me very much of my own childhood, as I was known as “the quiet one� (and still am to a large degree). Although I was never teased or bullied because of my bookish introversion, I know people were thinking “Does she even know how to talk?� My physical presence was “forgotten� many times because I was too busy observing and listening to the people around me instead of talking and interacting with them. In other words, this is probably one of the most relatable children’s books I’ve ever read.
Myra Louise and I know the pain of having to explain to others why we prefer books to people, and silence to talking. Introverts like us can provide a very simple answer to the annoying question “Why are you so quiet?� It’s nothing earth-shattering, yet the extroverts among us are often confounded by the simple truth: the world is much too loud � and life seems to make more sense when we are listening, not talking. Not to mention how much more we can learn about the world around us when we get quiet for a while.
Overall, Logan and I enjoyed the book, the message, and the beautiful illustrations; however, we couldn’t rate the book higher than 3 stars for at least two reasons. One, we felt the limitations of the ebook format hampered our experience of the book. The artwork is one of the better elements of this title, and it just wasn’t as easy to view and inspect it in ebook format. If we had a physical copy, we are sure we would rate the book one star higher. (Of course, this is no fault of the title itself, it’s just the only option we had at the moment and it does impact our review).
Two, we felt there could have been more time devoted to Myra Louise’s listening machine adventures. The concept of a young child being an inventor is pretty unique and the story just fell a little flat in places. This is not a major complaint, but sometimes children’s books seem a little too short, and I think this one could have been expanded by at least a few pages. Again, a good experience, and we are grateful for the chance to read the book months before publication. We hope to read it someday in print because ebook format wasn’t satisfactory for this title.
It’s a great book for children who might be self-conscious about their quiet personalities, or for children who are trying to understand their more introverted peers. It also serves as a talking point to encourage being comfortable in our own skin � no matter what the world expects of us.
June 16, 2020
Myra Louise is an introverted little girl who loves the sound of silence. She is always asked by others why she is so quiet all time. In her busy loud world Myra Louise stops and appreciates the stillness around her. She embraces the raindrops, the crickets and even the dryers at the laundromat.
She gets fed up with people always asking her about her quietness so she ponders, reads books, observes, collects many things because Myra Louise has a special plan. Juggling all these finds she heads out to her garage, the quietest place in the whole house, so she can begin her plan can become reality.
The hours fly by and Myra Louise builds a listening machine that just may answer why she is quiet so everyone will finally understand. She journeys with her machine turned on so she might discover why some things are quiet too. Will her exploration of being still and silent convince others to give it a try?
The illustrations are charming and beautifully done. The book is a tender challenge for children ( and adults too ) to be silent observant listeners of their surroundings. Take heed... the world has lots to teach us in its silence but one has to be quiet to absorb it! I highly recommend this book. Well done!
She gets fed up with people always asking her about her quietness so she ponders, reads books, observes, collects many things because Myra Louise has a special plan. Juggling all these finds she heads out to her garage, the quietest place in the whole house, so she can begin her plan can become reality.
The hours fly by and Myra Louise builds a listening machine that just may answer why she is quiet so everyone will finally understand. She journeys with her machine turned on so she might discover why some things are quiet too. Will her exploration of being still and silent convince others to give it a try?
The illustrations are charming and beautifully done. The book is a tender challenge for children ( and adults too ) to be silent observant listeners of their surroundings. Take heed... the world has lots to teach us in its silence but one has to be quiet to absorb it! I highly recommend this book. Well done!
June 2, 2020
Being a quiet person who often garners question and commentary from others on that particular trait, I was drawn to this book. This is the story of little Myra Louise who finds herself in just this situation. She calmly goes about observing and thinking to see if she can find an answer from other quiet things.
This is a cute story with pleasant illustrations. It is the quiet ones who know just how much can be learned from listening. I enjoy that Myra Louise invites others to join her in that endeavor.
This is a cute story with pleasant illustrations. It is the quiet ones who know just how much can be learned from listening. I enjoy that Myra Louise invites others to join her in that endeavor.
June 3, 2020
Great picture book about a more quiet child, a introvert, a listener. Great story and an even more great and important message. In this too much social world, people who feel a lesser need to talk or express themselves out loud often are «judge» or people don’t understand why they are like it. Being like that, always had been, I think this is something important to talk about and speak of it to children. And then maybe even the speakers an learn to listen a bit more!
August 17, 2020
In Why Are You So Quiet? we learn about the world through the ears of Myra Louise. Everyone is always after her to talk more, so Myra Louise decides to show them the joys of listening, and teaches her family, friends, and the reader, just how important it is to take time and be quiet. A great story for children who both love to talk and love to listen.
Review will post to blog on August 25, 2020.
Review will post to blog on August 25, 2020.
April 8, 2021
A great book for quiet, observant kids and those who don't understand them. What a sweet story!
July 20, 2020
Why Are You So Quiet?
A lot of little introverts (and many older ones!) will appreciate this picture book. How many times have we heard “Why are you so quiet� (the title question of Jaclyn Desforges’s book) or a question or comment in the same vein? You’re not saying much. Cat got your tongue? You’re quiet. You don’t talk much. Etc.
Myra Louise, the quiet girl of this book, hears those questions a lot, and doesn’t know how to answer. But as the last panel of Risa Hugo’s illustrations shows, not every quiet kid necessarily prefers to be a loner. It can be nice to have someone join you on your own quiet, listening, thoughtful wavelength.
I read a digital proof of Why Are You So Quiet? via NetGalley and the publisher, Annick Press. This review is unpaid and voluntary.
A lot of little introverts (and many older ones!) will appreciate this picture book. How many times have we heard “Why are you so quiet� (the title question of Jaclyn Desforges’s book) or a question or comment in the same vein? You’re not saying much. Cat got your tongue? You’re quiet. You don’t talk much. Etc.
Myra Louise, the quiet girl of this book, hears those questions a lot, and doesn’t know how to answer. But as the last panel of Risa Hugo’s illustrations shows, not every quiet kid necessarily prefers to be a loner. It can be nice to have someone join you on your own quiet, listening, thoughtful wavelength.
I read a digital proof of Why Are You So Quiet? via NetGalley and the publisher, Annick Press. This review is unpaid and voluntary.
June 9, 2021
This is a sweet book with lovely illustrations. It was an enjoyable read with a good message - especially for children who have been asked that question.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
January 13, 2021
Into a world where it often seems nobody is listening comes a poignant story that celebrates the power of silence.
“Why are you so quiet?� Her teacher implores it, her classmates shout it, even her mom wonders it. Everyone, it seems, is concerned for Myra Louise. So, in search of an answer to the tiresome question nobody will stop asking, she invents a listening machine. If the raindrops, or the crickets, or the dryers at the laundromat can tell her why ٳ’r so quiet, maybe Myra Louise can finally make everybody understand. But the more she listens, the less interested she becomes in finding any answer at all. Because Myra Louise comes to realize that all she really needs is someone else to listen alongside her.
Out September 2020
32 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Being a Naturalist, my dad was big on teaching us kids to appreciate nature and take in our surroundings noting things others may not. As we grew up, we were not the rowdiest group of kids because of his teachings. We learned to respect the things around us and learn from what our senses told us.
This book is almost as though it had been written by him. The lessons of paying attention and learning from our surroundings is highly stressed within its pages. As a very young child I was always on the go, loud and laughing and never really paying attention to anything except whatever was happening in that moment, just like most kids my age. When dad showed me another world, one of hidden surprises, I changed into a child just like Myra. It wasn’t really about what I was being shown or what I was listening to, it was sharing the time with my dad, special time.
And as like Myra, people who didn’t “get it� thought it strange until I shared what my dad had taught me with them. Observing a hawk in a tree by counting how many I saw during a road trip, taught me awareness of a creature on this planet that I basically called another “bird.� Through dad’s teachings, I learned more about red-tailed hawks in our area. He pointed out their high nests, talked about the relationship between hawks and owls and what hawks liked to eat.
Which brought me to fields where we walked all the while dad pointed out round balls hanging suspended between tall grass. They were field mice nests. He showed holes in the grass that seemed to be attached to little pathways which he told me were travel tunnels used by mice and moles. He said if I listened carefully and didn’t move, I could almost hear them moving through the grass. I remember closing my eyes and staying really still, listening. He asked me what I heard. I listed off all the sounds: the whisper of the wind, the buzzing of nearby honey bees, water moving in a nearby stream� and something else. My eyes opened wide and he smiled at me. He taught me that mice were not just mice, but an important part of the eco-system’s food chain and what would happen if all the mice in the world were gone to all the other creatures that relied on them for food.
Myra reminds me so much of me hungrily wanting to know more. Learning from what she heard to create and share her new knowledge with all the others who didn’t “get it� so that they would. In a world today of rushing here and rushing there, it’s nice to see a book that teaches kids to slow down, to appreciate something more than technology. This world is an amazing place and learning about it can be quite the treasure.
Why was learning about mice a big deal as I’m sure some are wondering. Well, my new children’s series is yup, you guessed it, about mice.
I love the gorgeous illustrations that accompany the story and the messages the author shared.
“Why are you so quiet?� Her teacher implores it, her classmates shout it, even her mom wonders it. Everyone, it seems, is concerned for Myra Louise. So, in search of an answer to the tiresome question nobody will stop asking, she invents a listening machine. If the raindrops, or the crickets, or the dryers at the laundromat can tell her why ٳ’r so quiet, maybe Myra Louise can finally make everybody understand. But the more she listens, the less interested she becomes in finding any answer at all. Because Myra Louise comes to realize that all she really needs is someone else to listen alongside her.
Out September 2020
32 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Being a Naturalist, my dad was big on teaching us kids to appreciate nature and take in our surroundings noting things others may not. As we grew up, we were not the rowdiest group of kids because of his teachings. We learned to respect the things around us and learn from what our senses told us.
This book is almost as though it had been written by him. The lessons of paying attention and learning from our surroundings is highly stressed within its pages. As a very young child I was always on the go, loud and laughing and never really paying attention to anything except whatever was happening in that moment, just like most kids my age. When dad showed me another world, one of hidden surprises, I changed into a child just like Myra. It wasn’t really about what I was being shown or what I was listening to, it was sharing the time with my dad, special time.
And as like Myra, people who didn’t “get it� thought it strange until I shared what my dad had taught me with them. Observing a hawk in a tree by counting how many I saw during a road trip, taught me awareness of a creature on this planet that I basically called another “bird.� Through dad’s teachings, I learned more about red-tailed hawks in our area. He pointed out their high nests, talked about the relationship between hawks and owls and what hawks liked to eat.
Which brought me to fields where we walked all the while dad pointed out round balls hanging suspended between tall grass. They were field mice nests. He showed holes in the grass that seemed to be attached to little pathways which he told me were travel tunnels used by mice and moles. He said if I listened carefully and didn’t move, I could almost hear them moving through the grass. I remember closing my eyes and staying really still, listening. He asked me what I heard. I listed off all the sounds: the whisper of the wind, the buzzing of nearby honey bees, water moving in a nearby stream� and something else. My eyes opened wide and he smiled at me. He taught me that mice were not just mice, but an important part of the eco-system’s food chain and what would happen if all the mice in the world were gone to all the other creatures that relied on them for food.
Myra reminds me so much of me hungrily wanting to know more. Learning from what she heard to create and share her new knowledge with all the others who didn’t “get it� so that they would. In a world today of rushing here and rushing there, it’s nice to see a book that teaches kids to slow down, to appreciate something more than technology. This world is an amazing place and learning about it can be quite the treasure.
Why was learning about mice a big deal as I’m sure some are wondering. Well, my new children’s series is yup, you guessed it, about mice.
I love the gorgeous illustrations that accompany the story and the messages the author shared.
October 27, 2020
I love books that help children understand a little more about themselves and others--and this book is one of those books. In this story, a young girl named Myra Louise enjoys very special activities. More specifically, she completely enjoys quiet activities. Some of her favorite things to do are build forts on rainy days and listen to the crickets in her backyard at sunset or the gentle hum of a clothes dryer. She prefers her quiet peaceful time, especially when company comes to the house or when it is recess time at school. Even though Myra Louise is very content, she is bothered that others do not seem to understand or respect her desire to have quiet time. Many ask her “Why are you so quiet?� One day, she comes up with a brilliant plan. We see Myra Louise collecting all kinds of interesting objects around the house such as string, wire, tin foil, shells, and an egg carton. She reads several books about machines and gets to work creating something in the garage. Finally her creation is complete-Myra Louise has built a listening machine. She tests her creation by listening to rain drops and the cricket’s song in her backyard. She even uses the machine as she listens to her mother read a bedtime story. Now it is time for the real test and Myra Louise brings her listening machine to school. This time, when a young boy asks her “Why are you so quiet?�, Myra Louise is able to use her listening machine to help him hear the sounds swirling in a seashell. It is a great way for her to show everyone how much you can actually hear when you are quiet.
The illustrations provided by Risa Hugo are perfect for this story. She has a great way of conveying the emotions of Myra Louise--showing her contentment when she is cozy under a fort inside her house, her sadness of being asked why she is always so quiet, and her pride at completing her listening machine. I think this is important because it can help children (both the quiet and the noisy ones) better understand how someone might feel in these situations.
I think this book could really open up a discussion about how children are all different and how it is important to embrace those differences. Children who are in a preschool or elementary school environment probably already know a child who is similar to Myra Louise.
The illustrations provided by Risa Hugo are perfect for this story. She has a great way of conveying the emotions of Myra Louise--showing her contentment when she is cozy under a fort inside her house, her sadness of being asked why she is always so quiet, and her pride at completing her listening machine. I think this is important because it can help children (both the quiet and the noisy ones) better understand how someone might feel in these situations.
I think this book could really open up a discussion about how children are all different and how it is important to embrace those differences. Children who are in a preschool or elementary school environment probably already know a child who is similar to Myra Louise.
January 20, 2021
Introverts everywhere will rejoice because Jaclyn Desforges and Risa Hugo have made a book specifically for you! Why Are You So Quiet? is a lovely story to remind readers that not everyone likes to be loud and brash.
Myra Louise loves the quiet. She’s a quiet girl and loves being cocooned in small spaces and enjoying all of the quiet sounds around her. Many people in her life just don’t understand why she’s so quiet and make her feel small. She wants to explain why she’s quiet but just doesn’t know how. She thinks and tinkers and finds a way to help others understand why she’s so quiet.
I love that Jaclyn Desforges frames this story in a way that makes sure readers understand how valuable it is to be quiet. She emphasizes all the things Myra Louise is good at like reading, thinking and noticing. She really ensures readers understand the power of the quiet and how much we can learn and do when we just take a little time to be quiet and listen. It also reminds readers that it’s perfectly okay to want to be alone and thoughtful.
The illustrations by Risa Hugo have a quiet quality to them. The colours are muted and soft, the pages are not cluttered but only contain as much detail as they need. There is a dreaminess to the illustrations that are comforting and inviting.
Outside Art
Myra Louise loves the quiet. She’s a quiet girl and loves being cocooned in small spaces and enjoying all of the quiet sounds around her. Many people in her life just don’t understand why she’s so quiet and make her feel small. She wants to explain why she’s quiet but just doesn’t know how. She thinks and tinkers and finds a way to help others understand why she’s so quiet.
I love that Jaclyn Desforges frames this story in a way that makes sure readers understand how valuable it is to be quiet. She emphasizes all the things Myra Louise is good at like reading, thinking and noticing. She really ensures readers understand the power of the quiet and how much we can learn and do when we just take a little time to be quiet and listen. It also reminds readers that it’s perfectly okay to want to be alone and thoughtful.
The illustrations by Risa Hugo have a quiet quality to them. The colours are muted and soft, the pages are not cluttered but only contain as much detail as they need. There is a dreaminess to the illustrations that are comforting and inviting.
Outside Art
July 24, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press for the digital review copy of this gem!
Everyone always asks Myra Louise why she’s so quiet. It makes her feel so small, so one day, she gets an idea. She listens, she thinks, she reads, and she gets to work. When she invents a listening machine, she may just encourage others to stop asking shy she is so quiet and start listening with her.
I loved this little book. It’s dedicated to quiet kids everywhere, and that was 100% me. Take out the kid part, and that’s still me. Introverts will identify hardcore with this, and it’s a great book to add to the collection of young readers. It’s okay to be quiet. It’s okay to listen. In fact, introverts often bring more to that table than others, because they absorb everything and think on it before coming to any decisions. Representation is important, and it’s great for kids to know they aren’t the only ones.
This one is out September 8. Just in time for back to school (whatever that may look like this year), so be sure to add it to your kids� fall reading list or even to storytime for kids and adults.
August 1, 2020
Why Are You So Quiet by Jaclyn Desforges is a sweet story about Myra Louise who is content to sit in nature and listen to the sounds around her, but the world demands that she be louder. That she speak more, take up more space and make her presence known. This, however, goes against her nature and she sets out to make a machine to help her be quiet. But, in the end, she finds that her machine will help her share her world more than help her escape it.
The lovely illustrations by Risa Hugo emphasizes Myra Louise's world, the details such as the small insects in the yard by her school, the toys scattered around her room, and the flowers in the field where her classmates play all help to show that her world is large and varied. The target audience is for early elementary-aged children and preschoolers. It is sweet story about taking joy in your surroundings and the joy of finding a kindred spirit.
Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley and the publishers.
The lovely illustrations by Risa Hugo emphasizes Myra Louise's world, the details such as the small insects in the yard by her school, the toys scattered around her room, and the flowers in the field where her classmates play all help to show that her world is large and varied. The target audience is for early elementary-aged children and preschoolers. It is sweet story about taking joy in your surroundings and the joy of finding a kindred spirit.
Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley and the publishers.
January 20, 2021
Review copy provided by NetGalley
This was an interesting take on the quiet child character type. I've read a lot of books about this sort of character in the past, but usually those books are some sort of take on how to help the quiet child find their voice and break their silence. This one took the approach of allowing the quiet child to flourish and help others to understand why she chose to be quiet.
I liked that it included some element of building and "making" which all of my librarian friends are looking for. I'm not entirely sure that I understood what she had accomplished with her machine by the end, though I'm glad that she could share her experience with her mother and her new friend, Jeremy. They seemed to get that she had uncovered something special, and I guess that's enough. I guess there's a part of me that expects the big finish, and this one is a story of something soft and small that is content to stay that way.
It was a pleasant read in all.
This was an interesting take on the quiet child character type. I've read a lot of books about this sort of character in the past, but usually those books are some sort of take on how to help the quiet child find their voice and break their silence. This one took the approach of allowing the quiet child to flourish and help others to understand why she chose to be quiet.
I liked that it included some element of building and "making" which all of my librarian friends are looking for. I'm not entirely sure that I understood what she had accomplished with her machine by the end, though I'm glad that she could share her experience with her mother and her new friend, Jeremy. They seemed to get that she had uncovered something special, and I guess that's enough. I guess there's a part of me that expects the big finish, and this one is a story of something soft and small that is content to stay that way.
It was a pleasant read in all.
October 2, 2020
Everyone wonders why Myra Louise is so quiet. Myra Louise likes to listen. She likes being silent because she can hear things that most people don’t listen to. As different people as k about her silence, she tries to think of an answer but she can’t. Myra Louise builds a machine that enhances her hearing. She lets a classmate use the machine to hear what she hears.
A picture book with colorful Illustration that helps tells the joy of listening and being quiet. It is a good book. I remember being a quiet girl too as I read this. It is amazing the way noise can become beautiful to listen to.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
A picture book with colorful Illustration that helps tells the joy of listening and being quiet. It is a good book. I remember being a quiet girl too as I read this. It is amazing the way noise can become beautiful to listen to.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
May 8, 2021
Beautiful Story for "Quiet" People Longing to Be Heard
I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and here are my thoughts.
This is a wonderful book, beautifully illustrated, about a young girl who is quieter than average, and gets repeatedly asked "Why are you so quiet"?, in a way that implies that something is wrong with being quiet.
She takes the question to heart, and instead of letting it become a phrase that wounds her, she decides to build a machine to enable her to listen more intensely to the sounds of the world around her.
This is a wonderful, wonderful book for the quiet child in your life or simply the child who feels they don't fit in OR a child who could perhaps benefit from hearing a story about someone who finds joy in listening deeply to the sounds in the world around use.
A skill we could all benefit from improving.
I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and here are my thoughts.
This is a wonderful book, beautifully illustrated, about a young girl who is quieter than average, and gets repeatedly asked "Why are you so quiet"?, in a way that implies that something is wrong with being quiet.
She takes the question to heart, and instead of letting it become a phrase that wounds her, she decides to build a machine to enable her to listen more intensely to the sounds of the world around her.
This is a wonderful, wonderful book for the quiet child in your life or simply the child who feels they don't fit in OR a child who could perhaps benefit from hearing a story about someone who finds joy in listening deeply to the sounds in the world around use.
A skill we could all benefit from improving.
May 11, 2022
This book spoke to me on a personal level. Like Myra Louise, I was also super quiet and preferred my solitude over interacting with other people and like our main character, I was also asked a lot of times in my life: "Why are you so quiet?" Always in a confused, concerned or criticizing tone by adults and peers. WHY ARE YOU SO QUIET? shows readers that being introverted isn't a bad thing at all, and that sometimes the most quietest kids are the most observant, thoughtful and patient people you'll meet. Also that slowing down and appreciating things in our fast-paced world is a practice worth doing. The author's words were wonderful, and the illustrator's artwork matched perfectly.
Definitely loved this one and would recommend everyone check this out. I'll certainly be getting a copy for my library.
Definitely loved this one and would recommend everyone check this out. I'll certainly be getting a copy for my library.
June 3, 2020
"Why Are You So Quiet" is the book my family needed! Hailing from the pen of Jaclyn Desforges, this book tells the story of a young girl who prefers to be quiet. The people around her don't understand why she doesn't speak up more often. The girl decides to create something that will highlight the beauty of life found when someone is quiet.
Our family loved this book. As a parent of quiet kids, I cheered when I started reading this to my little ones. The story rings true and there are so many great examples of things that people can hear when they just sit and listen. I was pleasantly pleased with this book. It was creative, touching and meaningful! It was fun to watch my little ones connect with the main character and her situation!
Our family loved this book. As a parent of quiet kids, I cheered when I started reading this to my little ones. The story rings true and there are so many great examples of things that people can hear when they just sit and listen. I was pleasantly pleased with this book. It was creative, touching and meaningful! It was fun to watch my little ones connect with the main character and her situation!
June 7, 2020
Reading the description for this book I was immediately interested as I related to the topic of being quiet as a child and even into adulthood I remember this exact question, Why Are You So Quiet? It was usually in a tone that doesn't make you feel good about a part of who you are.
This book made sure to address that feeling by mentioning how the protagonist felt smaller overtime. The story continues with highlights of the strengths to being an introvert- a good listener, thinker, observer, and even reader. I saw this as beautiful and clearly written from an author who lived this experience. I love this book for children who may not understand how their introverted nature is an asset.
I like the moments where she's enjoying her time doing things she loves. She finds her voice in the end by speaking up and saying, I'm listening. I also enjoyed the illustrations.
This book made sure to address that feeling by mentioning how the protagonist felt smaller overtime. The story continues with highlights of the strengths to being an introvert- a good listener, thinker, observer, and even reader. I saw this as beautiful and clearly written from an author who lived this experience. I love this book for children who may not understand how their introverted nature is an asset.
I like the moments where she's enjoying her time doing things she loves. She finds her voice in the end by speaking up and saying, I'm listening. I also enjoyed the illustrations.
July 13, 2020
Why Are You So Quiet? is a beautifully gentle story full of gorgeous textured artwork. Myra Louise constantly gets asked that question which makes her feel self conscious and misunderstood. Determined to communicate why she is the way she is, Myra Louise uses her creativity to build a listening machine (because it isn't just that she is quiet, but that she is quiet so that she can be in the moment, notice things and listen). Using the listening machine with others creates lovely shared moments.
I loved this story. Not only because I was a child who was often asked this question... well, I am an adult still asked this question sometimes too... but because the author and illustrator do such a great job of pulling you into these scenes. Even reading in my head, I am whispering quietly.
I loved this story. Not only because I was a child who was often asked this question... well, I am an adult still asked this question sometimes too... but because the author and illustrator do such a great job of pulling you into these scenes. Even reading in my head, I am whispering quietly.
October 17, 2020
Why Are You So Quiet? by Jaclyn Desforges and illustrated by Risa Hugo Is a book for all the quiet kids.
Mary Louise is a quiet girl who loved quiet places. Her friends asked her why are you so quiet? The class teacher demanded she raises her hand in class to answer a question. Her mom looked at her disapprovingly when Mary Louise read in her room after playing with friends.
Mary Louise is troubled by the question, why are you so quiet? She seeks the help of nature to answer the question.
I loved the soothing illustrations and this gentle story which teaches kids that their friends can have different personalities. Some are naughty and boisterous, whereas some are quiet and observant.
Mary Louise is a quiet girl who loved quiet places. Her friends asked her why are you so quiet? The class teacher demanded she raises her hand in class to answer a question. Her mom looked at her disapprovingly when Mary Louise read in her room after playing with friends.
Mary Louise is troubled by the question, why are you so quiet? She seeks the help of nature to answer the question.
I loved the soothing illustrations and this gentle story which teaches kids that their friends can have different personalities. Some are naughty and boisterous, whereas some are quiet and observant.
April 22, 2021
Why Are You So Quiet? // by Jaclyn Desforges
This was a really quick and really cute read. The illustrations are very pretty. I really like the topic, showing children that it's ok to not be loud all the time, it's ok to prefer being quiet and to listen, but I did feel that when you put the two sides of the story together, there was a looong emphasis on pointing out what was "wrong" with Myra Louise and then a very short conclusion showing us the point of the book. As an adult, I can see what it might be trying to imply but I don't know if that would translate well to be understandable by a young child.
This was a really quick and really cute read. The illustrations are very pretty. I really like the topic, showing children that it's ok to not be loud all the time, it's ok to prefer being quiet and to listen, but I did feel that when you put the two sides of the story together, there was a looong emphasis on pointing out what was "wrong" with Myra Louise and then a very short conclusion showing us the point of the book. As an adult, I can see what it might be trying to imply but I don't know if that would translate well to be understandable by a young child.
November 15, 2021
a lovely book about introverts. Myra Louise is a good thinker, reader and noticed she’s just not very vocal. She likes to listen and absorb and take everything in.
It’s evident from the story that she tries to answer the question everyone asks ‘why are you so quiet� so builds a listening device to her favourite quiet sounds
When she meets a friend who appreciates listening too they listen together and acknowledge just how beautiful being quiet and listening to the noise of something so small and delicate can be - like the ladybirds fluttering wings.
Beautiful illustrations with contrasting colours in some scenes to maybe show when shes feeling upset, confused or lonely.
It’s evident from the story that she tries to answer the question everyone asks ‘why are you so quiet� so builds a listening device to her favourite quiet sounds
When she meets a friend who appreciates listening too they listen together and acknowledge just how beautiful being quiet and listening to the noise of something so small and delicate can be - like the ladybirds fluttering wings.
Beautiful illustrations with contrasting colours in some scenes to maybe show when shes feeling upset, confused or lonely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
My (very quiet) 4 year old LOVED this one. As a non-quiet (per se) person who is neither introvert or extrovert I have to admit that I didn't quite GET it. As in I don't come out of it really understanding more why Myra Louise liked such quiet things, beyond that the book sets up a really effective ambiance of quiet and calm, which I suppose is what she enjoys! But it is a great, affirming book for kids who are quieter or more observant and shows how that is a trait to embrace and accept, rather than just constantly questioning why it is so. So definitely a good addition to our family library!
June 2, 2020
This is such a lovely book with a great message. I feel like the first one I took from it is how kids react to other kids being loud when they want quiet. While that may seem uncommon it makes it amazing to have it spoke on her, then to have second message of slowing down to listen was really great. This sparked a lot of great discussions between the kids about what we can hear and why we should. Thank you so much for the great opportunity and for a book that I can read and love with my little ones.
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