Miran Park's Everything Is Music, translated from the Korean by Paige Aniyah Morris, is a lyrical picture book that is both meditative and playful as it invites young readers to tune in to the world around them. On the opening spread, a child pedals away from home as "sounds stretch awake," an evocative description that sets the tone for a story rooted in curiosity and sensory awareness.
The child rides through landscapes, a puppy tucked into the bike basket, collecting the city's sonic textures. "The sounds whizz by": the whirr of bicycle wheels, distant laughter, birds overhead, the rumble of an approaching storm, even the "pitter-patter percussion" of rain and footsteps on the street become part of the child's attentive exploration. Park's pacing encourages readers to linger, to pause, and to notice as continually shifting perspectives prompt readers to look again and discover musical motifs hidden in plain sight. A cello, a guitar, and a harp materialize where one might expect ordinary urban or natural forms.
These visual discoveries reward careful observation and offer a gentle lesson in finding beauty within everyday environments. Park's palette is deliberate, the expanses of white punctuated only by the striking red of the child's dress and the yellow of the disguised musical imagery. A closing key reveals the musical instruments seen throughout the book. Everything Is Music, a book meant for slowing down, encourages young listeners to attune themselves to sound, shape, and wonder. Park's combination of expressive linework and visual metaphor form a harmonious exploration of perception and play. --Julie Danielson