Most babies have excellent hearing and are attracted to the everyday sounds adults take for granted. Sally Rippin’s book ‘What’s that Noise?’ illustrated by Lorette Broekstra was first published in 2008. In 2021 the Indigenous Literary Foundation published this edition in Kriol.
Each double page spread highlights the rhythmic sounds of everyday life, a baby crying, a dog barking or washing flapping in the breeze with the sounds cause stated in one simple phrase, ‘That’s the baby crying’ or ‘That’s the puppy barking.’ The illustrations are clear, simple and colourful and invite discussion of the possible origins of the sounds in the objects shown. The inclusion of a culturally diverse range of babies adds to its value
The book is engaging and ideal to share with very young children prompting discussion of the objects and the various sounds.
Note that there is an English-language version of this book. The title is ‘What’s That Noise?’, published by Allen & Unwin in 2008.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
