Hearing Things: TOON Level Two

by Ben Sears, Ben Sears (Illustrator)

Overview

Sometimes the spookiest thing of all isn’t a haunted house!

In this spine-tingling graphic novel, Tim and his big sister Martha are new to the neighborhood. Tim likes to record sounds on adventures with his cat, Frankie. Martha likes to make scary music. Nothing has been right for her since the move: Her music stinks! What if she never has friends again! Tim goes on a quest: if he can record something bone-chilling, then Martha can finish her song. But even the block’s haunted house is silent. Just when Tim is ready to give up, Frankie helps him find a way, with the help of some new, unexpected friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662665431
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	6.31(w) x 9.38(h) x 0.36(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

BEN SEARS has lived in Kentucky his whole life. Raised in a house full of rock and roll music, he played drums in punk bands until he realized hewould rather spend all his time drawing pictures and making comics. He has three cats: Harper, Kiwi, and Junior, who likes to stand by the door waiting to go out for a walk on a leash. Like Tim, Ben loves going around his neighborhood to record the sounds of nature—the creek by his house, the wind shaking the trees, or the insects buzzing away. Ben used to love loud noises, but now that he is older, he has learned to appreciate quiet.He goes to sleep every night reading the adventures of Charlie Brown in Charles Schulz’s Peanuts.

Editorial Reviews

06/03/2024

Accompanied by orange cat Frankie, young Tim relishes recording the sounds of his new neighborhood—chirping birds, croaking frogs, and an engine’s “PUTTPUTTPUTT.” But older sister Martha is languishing in the unfamiliar surroundings—she feels friendless, lacks energy to make the “creepy” songs that are her creative passion, and takes face-down naps. Tim stumbles into a solution upon following Frankie into a seemingly abandoned mansion. After encountering two spectral residents, the cat communicates Martha’s plight via a dramatic display of feline charades. In sympathy, the skeletal inhabitants conjure up a cacophonous symphony of sounds: a spatula flies through the air with a “FWWSH,” bathroom bubbles go “BLUB,” chess pieces “CLACK,” and in a bravura spread, Sears (the Double+ Adventures series) shows the living room as a swirl of animated objects emitting sounds. When the bounty of eerie recorded sounds shakes Martha out of her funk and into bonding with Tim, she even suggests a visit back to the source. Ghostly shenanigans take center stage in this graphic novel, illustrated in the creator’s signature thin-lined layers, which also offers an intriguing picture of a sibling relationship—low-key in its expression but deep in its connection. Ages 5–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"No macabre vibes here, just some supernatural fun.... A solid, spooky tale, with vintage-quality illustrations." —Kirkus Reviews

"Ghostly shenanigans take center stage in this graphic novel...which also offers an intriguing picture of a sibling relationship—low-key in its expression but deep in its connection." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

07/01/2024

K-Gr 2—Tim is eager to help out his sister Martha, who likes to make scary tunes, when she feels isolated and no longer wants to play music. In a search for unique sounds for Martha to sample and mix, Tim stumbles into the town's haunted house. At first, he hears nothing but silence, but Tim's cat is able to persuade two friendly ghosts to liven up the place and make as many spooky sounds as possible. As Tim explores each room, readers are treated with an appreciation of sounds, complete with onomatopoetic words with thick typeface. Sears's accompanying chunky cartoon style makes the piece very gentle and fun, which pairs well with the softer tone. The simpler word choice also makes this perfect for young kiddos who want a "scary story," but need something a little tamer before jumping into the deep end. VERDICT A pleasant and scary-but-not-too-scary addition.—Peter Blenski

School Library Journal