City Noise.

New York, NY Harpercollins, 1994. Library Binding First Ed; First Printing indicated. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY THE ILLUSTRATOR. First Ed; First Printing indicated. Near Fine in Near Fine DJ: Both book and DJ show only minute indications of use. Book shows binding square and secure; text clean. DJ unclipped; mylar-protected. Overall, very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 4to. Unpaginated. Illustrated by Renee Flower. Hardback with DJ. Kuskin ( City Dog ; The Philharmonic Gets Dressed ) and first-time illustrator Flower seize on urban cacophony and turn it into a celebration of life itself in this dynamic picture book. A girl discovers a tin can in the street and holds it up to her ear to hear the secrets it keeps: the roar of city life tumbles out, like a genie escaping from a lamp. With a few well-chosen words ("Squalling Calling Crashing Rushing") the noise level intensifies, matched by comically frenetic pictures in which every object (house, car, garbage can) is personified and given a manic expression. All is frenzied movement and color. In this carnival-like setting cars honk and belch; ships smoke; people joke, laugh and yell; trains squeal. Even the words "reds and greens" are an invitation for mayhem. Noise here is equated with "Living Living Living"--and certainly the book is a whirling, swirling, crazy, colorful ode to sound. There is much child appeal here in both text and artwork, although parents may be praying for peace and quiet after successive readings. For Ages 4-8. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY THE ILLUSTRATOR.