When the world was young, butterflies were so noisy that they did not see the beauty around them--until a great storm transformed and silenced them.

Listening to doctors, neuroscientists, acoustical engineers, monks, activists, educators, marketers, and aggrieved citizens, George Prochnik examines why we began to be so loud as a society, what it is that gets lost when we can no longer find quiet, and what are the benefits of decluttering our sonic world.

Early in the morning, a bird begins to sing at number One Fish Street, waking the man next door and his dog, and before long, as one noise leads to another, everyone on the street is awake.

Loud, scary noises frighten a child until quiet and calmness return.

Rhyming text imitates Baby finding pots, pans, lids, and cans in the kitchen.

Tapir and Little Tapir are the quietest creatures in a very noisy jungle, but when a leopard is threatened by a hunter they teach him how to move with a very soft step, and the other animals follow suit.

Because he can't sleep, Mortimer makes so much noise he keeps his family as well as the neighbors and the police awake.

Unable to be quiet since he was born, Holler Loudly only gets louder as he grows up which gets him in trouble at school, the library, and the movie theater, but when a tornado threatens the state fair, Holler's voice may save the day.

When Rabbit has trouble falling asleep because of various noises, Mole tries to help.

Rupert the mouse wants to star in an artistic, wordless picturebook, but his animal friends cause problems by talking too much.