A Big Quiet House

A man's quest for quiet leads to unexpected wisdom.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 97 ratings

32 pages· 945 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud

$8.95Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In a tiny, bustling home, a sleepless man seeks peace. Guided by a wise woman, he fills his house with noisy animals, hoping for silence. Chaos ensues, but as the animals leave, he discovers tranquility in the familiar sounds of home. This ancient folktale reveals how perspective can transform our world, teaching that sometimes, nonsense holds the deepest wisdom.

From the publisher

It is the man who changes, and the world he perceives is transformed. With a tiny, cluttered house, giggling children, and a snoring wife, one man can’t get a good night’s sleep. “If only,” he thinks, “I had a big quiet house!” He throws off his covers and decides to visit the wise old woman at the edge of the village. Surely she can help him solve his problem and she does, but not without giving him some very unusual advice.The woman convinces the man to fill his house with rambling animals, none of which cure his sleeping problem. Until one day, the man takes the animals back to where they belong, and he welcomes the rhythmic sound of his wife’s snoring. This ancient Yiddish folktale proves that quite often, nonsense makes the best sense of all. Susan Greenstein’s bold illustrations–white pencil on black surface with watercolor - carry the reader through the warm interiors and peaceful nights of the shtetls of Eastern Europe. This story highlights the importance of perspective. Everyone has problems, however attitude can dramatically affect perception. It is the man who changes, and the world he perceives is transformed.

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