★★★★★
Synopsis: Roy is a little lion with a big dream: to find the most beautiful sound in the world. But as he travels far and wide, he realises this is far more difficult than he could ever have imagined… Can a new friend help him to find what he’s looking for?
The Best Sound in the World is Cindy Wume’s first picture book, and it’s a great one! In the story we follow a lion, Roy, who wants to become a great violinist. His friend Jemmy, the lemur living next door, tries to help him, but Roy doesn’t want any help. Roy leaves to travel the world and capture (you guessed it) the best sound in the world. However, he returns home sad when he can’t find the one best sound. It is then up to Jemmy to cheer him up. This helps Roy realise that his friend’s out of tune musical help is the best sound in the world, to Roy.
This story of Roy and Jemmy teaches children about friendship, especially to never take it for granted. In the end, Roy discovers there isn’t a single sound that is the best, but it’s different for everyone. In his case, the best sound in the world is hearing his best friend is with him, enjoying his music.
I feel like the story even goes beyond friendship and introduces the idea that what is true for one person, may not be true for another. Each person has their own ‘best sound in the world’. It is a difficult concept to grasp for children, who tend to see the world in black and white, that people have preferences and tastes that are different to your own and that that is okay. Therefore, for it to be introduced in a picture book to make it easier to grasp seems to me the best way to help them understand it.
What I really like about this picture book is the way the illustrations connect with the story. It is important you pay as much attention to the illustrations as the story, because there are certain things they tell you that the text doesn’t. For instance, Roy loses his violin during his trip, which isn’t mentioned in the story. However, in the illustrations you can see Jemmy finding it when Roy has already left. These kinds of details give the illustrations a new purpose. Rather than visualising the text, they add to it, and make the story even better. For instance, the first time I read it I didn’t realise Roy lost his violin, so when Jemmy gave it back to him I was confused. Obviously, I went back, read the story again, and discovered a page where an abandoned violin was being spotted by Jemmy.
Overall, this may be Cindy Wume’s first picture book, but I’m a fan already! I really liked the illustration style and how the pictures expanded the story, as well as the various morals and concepts touched upon in the book.
If you would like to buy your own copy of The Best Sound in the World, you can do so at Book Depository.*
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I would like to thank Lincoln Children's First Editions and Quarto Kids for sending me a review copy, as well as the exclusive pre-order gift tote bag!
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