Did You Hear That?

It’s morning when the wide-eyed kid narrator of this board book is roused from sleep by a house filled with sound. “What’s that noise?” asks the child, and Spanish journalist Vicente gives the answer in a series of onomatopoeic phrases. There’s the rooster’s “cock-a-doodle-do,” the “oghh phheww, oghh phheww” of Dad’s snores, and the “wuuaah wuuaah” of a fussy baby brother. In addition to hearing the noises, the child generates some of their own, including clinking a spoon against a glass and chomping on a piece of cheese as a hungry mouse looks on. And out in the world, the names of sounds abound—the “whoooooosh” of wind in the trees, the “bzzzzz bzzzzz” of a bee, and the “wee-woo wee-woo” of an ambulance—before the day comes full circle with the “mwaaah” of an after-dinner kiss from Mom. Though the scenes don’t always reflect a clear day-to-night progression, poster-like drawings by Ordóñez (Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA) distill familiar activities into colorful toy-like shapes, conjuring up a world that’s a movable audio feast. The child’s family is portrayed with pale skin and orange noses. Ages up to 2. Agent: Marlena Torzecka, Marlena Agency. (June)