Andrew Kelly (text) and Hélène Magisson (illustrator), Noisy, Noisy City, Wild Dog, May 2025, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781742036755
Welcome to city life, the hustle, bustle and noise!
Young readers will find plenty to explore in the pages of this book, as trams trundle, helicopters hover, cars beep, radios blare and onomatopoeia abounds while a community goes about its daily business.
The soundscape of a busy city demands participation in this picture book. Another fun element is the small blue bird which can be spotted from front cover to back cover and on every double spread. Its activity also creates a simple narrative arc as it flits across the city, collecting small branches along the way, seemingly unperturbed by the cacophony of the traffic. On the final page readers find the bird sitting in its nest, its job complete as it calmly watches the hustle and bustle below.
Hélène Magisson’s illustrations are vibrant and fun, with lovely shifts in perspective. At times the text weaves between elements on the page, reinforcing the sense of movement and activity.
This is a delightful and simple book for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy, and is likely prompt requests for repeated readings!
Reviewed by Bronwyn Joseph
