When was the last time you went for a silent walk—a walk where you simply listen to your surroundings?
“On a Listening Walk I do not talk. I listen to all the different sounds. I hear many different sounds when I do not talk.”
In this Classic picture book, originally published in 1961, a little girl and her father go on a silent walk through the city and the park.
We get to notice all the sounds she does, like the whispering sound of the sprinkler, the cars she passes, and the pigeons at the park. All the sounds are described using onomatopoeias like, z-z-z-z-z-z-zzzzzzoooooooooooooommmmmm, to describe the lawnmower.
This book is perfect for teaching children about listening, using their senses, being mindful, and tuning into their surroundings. The call to action at the end of the book encourages us to listen to all the sounds around us, and identify how many we can hear.
All of us would benefit from going on a Listening Walk and tuning into every day sounds.
In a world of distraction and constant speed, I felt a sense of calm and peace reading this book, and imagining the next time I can get outside to walk in silence.
Helps with: mindfulness, listening, using the senses, developing awareness of nature and your surroundings, and onomatopoeia.
Author: Paul Showers
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991