Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear

by Olga Fadeeva, Lena Traer (translator)

A curiosity-sparking book about sound in science and history.
Do you ever wonder about sound--what is it, anyway? How do we produce and hear sound? How do birds, dolphins, and humans use sounds to communicate? What does life look like without sound? How has the sound of music developed over the centuries? How are sounds sent across thousands of miles? How has technology--phonographs, cassettes, radio, computers--changed how we share sound? Can sounds even affect our health?

Explore sound's vital role on our planet with this playful, wide-ranging tour through physics, technology, musicology, language, and more. Throughout the book, "Try It!" sections encourage children to create their own sound experiments. Readers who loved Olga Fadeeva's Water and Wind will be thrilled to discover yet another browsable book inviting them to explore their world.

Genres: Science

56 pages, Hardcover

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Olga Fadeeva (Ольга Фадеева) is the author and illustrator of Water: Discovering the Precious Resource All Around Us, Wind: Discovering Air in Motion (Eerdmans), and many other books for children. Wind earned a starred review from Kirkus and was named a USSBY Outstanding International Book, and Water earned starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal. Olga’s art has been honored in Italy, China, and her home country of Russia.

Reviews

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sound isn’t a special kind of magic, changing how we feel and what we do. It’s just science—sound is all about vibrations, and vibrations can affect the human body.”

Sound is all around you, and it’s not what you think. It’s not just music, but also rustling leaves, boiling water, and sound waves we can’t even hear. Sound is how humans and animals communicate too. Hearing and producing sound is scientific and rooted in frequency, pitch, and volume. Throughout history, sound has evolved so much. Music, technology, language, and more continue to change as the years go by. Sounds can affect our health, moods, and daily lives. Without sound, the world would be a vastly different place. Exploring sound through Olga Fadeeva’s newest book teaches the importance of paying attention to the sounds you hear every day and encourages its readers to experiment with sound waves.

In Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear, Olga Fadeeva describes and beautifully illustrates everything you need to know about sound. I went into this review expecting a cute little book about music and everyday sounds, but this was so much more comprehensive. Fadeeva not only included a detailed, scientific explanation of what sound actually is and how it’s made, but she also gave a brief history of it. I didn’t expect to learn so much about the science behind sound from this book. The illustrations were the highlight of the book for me. I loved the use of colors and shapes to help the reader visualize the different sounds. I would have liked to see a few more two-page illustrations and less white space on some of the pages, but overall, it was organized beautifully. I did start to struggle to stay focused on the book when it gave more in-depth scientific explanations, and I feel like it could be hard for younger children to understand. Even so, the book has great information for older kids and adults alike. The “Try-It” sections are also great ways to keep the reader involved and provide hands-on learning opportunities for kids. Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear would be a great addition to any older child’s bookshelf and perfect for classroom settings as well.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.

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[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the book and I really enjoyed it! The illustrations are lovely and really bring the content to life. This book takes readers through the science of sound, diving into so many aspects—from how sound travels to the different ways we experience it through history. It kept me engaged throughout!

What I love most about this book is its ability to make complex concepts accessible for kids. It really encourages kids to stop and listen to the world around them. My favorite page was the one that highlighted how different countries around the world perceive animal sounds! Like here in the US, we say that roosters make a “cock-a-doodle doo” sound, whereas in Germany, it’s “kikekiri!”

One thing I wasn’t a fan of was the font type they chose for the headings on each page. It didn’t quite match the overall aesthetic of the book. However, the content and flow were great, making it easy to read and understand. The book is a fun and educational book that really inspires curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the auditory world around us.


Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sound, Olga Fadeeva helps young readers discover the vibrations we hear. This educational book explains everything curious kids might want to know about sound—such as pitch, frequency, volume, as well as how our vocal cords and eardrums work.

The book explores sound in space (or the lack of it) and in the sea (where it travels with speed). It looks at the sounds we hear in nature and animals, as well as the ones we can listen to or record using technology.

The Glory of God through the Gift of Sound

The illustrations by Lena Traer are wonderful, featuring bold colors and captivating artwork. “Try It!” sections throughout the book encourage children and parents to experiment and learn together.

As a nurse, I especially appreciated the section dedicated to American Sign Language—for those who can’t hear sound. As a worship leader, I especially loved the section on music. This book will help your kids see the glory of God through the amazing gift of sound!

I received a media copy of Sound and this is my honest review. @diveindigdeep

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

The science of sound – from what it is and how our ears hear it, to trivia about birdsong, cetacean communication, language and so much more. We also dip into prehistory, ancient Greece, and the Middle Ages to see – sorry, hear – what they would have sounded like. It does actually kind of hang together, even if everything from decibel levels to ASL is on these pages, but the creator is clearly as intent on doing artful designs as they are conveying the actual science. The spread about recorded sound sent me in all directions before I worked out the proper reading order. Apart from that the look doesn't fully get in the way, and if you can cope with the multiple font sizes and colours per page you will be able to learn a lot, as this packs a lot in for an older-primary-school volume. I would have preferred it to have been different, but I still think it's a four star read.

[Krista Galley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully informative book about the basics of sound. There are some really wonderful “Try It” ideas that I will be doing with my children at home. I know they will love it. Most likely we will read this book in sections more than as an all at once read aloud.

The illustrations are beautiful and I love how they provide a visual conceptualization for how sound works and what sound is. There is information on the history of sound and inventions related to sound, plus it covers animals, places, and music. This book really covers such a wide base of information. Definitely a book to return to with your children to help them glean more each time.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This nonfiction picture book details the various types of sounds and how we perceive them. Various text features, such as diagrams, illustrations, photos, labeling, maps, headings, and others, help explain the topics.

Comments: This is a detailed and informative sound book that explains not only how we actually hear sound but also how sounds have evolved over the centuries. Learn the answers to "What is an echo? What is sound like under the water? Can sound influence our health? How has sound changed over time?"

The illustrations were created with acrylic paint and water.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a picture book. Technically it is but it’s also a type of encyclopedia on what makes sound sound. How does sound work? How do you hear? What causes different sounds to happen. It’s about more than just music, more than just being loud, but about the sound you hear and sound in your heart. The illustrations are fantastic. They make the book enjoyable and memorable and not feel like homework.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It made me reflect on the sounds that surround me. Additionally, as human beings, we produce sounds, and our bodies are designed to perceive them. Also, it addresses how sounds can impact humans. I liked how the book illustrates the evolution of the world's sounds across human history.

[Christine Gustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book!

This book is SO great! It’s full of great illustrations and so much information. I’ll be purchasing a copy of this book to read again with my kiddos as soon as it’s published!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book all about sound, but filled with a TON of information. I had to skip reading some of the text because it was too heady to read before bed, but it did allow for some great dialogue with my son about the science of sound.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dynamic illustrated book that helps older elementary school readers explore the nuances of sound.

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the coolest non-fiction books I've read in a long time!
Cannot wait to showcase this in our school library!

With such unique illustrations, lots of vibrant text, and PACKED with information, this is such an amazing resource to share- all about SOUND!

A must for your library collection, or science/fact lover!