Listen Up!: Exploring the World of Natural Sound

The sounds of nature are being drowned out by the clamor of human activity, and that's not good for people, animals or the environment.

Every living thing emits sound―birds sing, whales whistle, streams burble and trees pop and fizzle. In Listen Up, young readers are introduced to all the sounds of the natural world, from the first Big Bang to the complex soundscapes of the rainforests.

Readers will also discover how the invasion of human sounds, from airplanes, traffic and machines, is threatening the survival of species that have adapted to their habitats over thousands of years. Conserving the sounds of nature is an important part of addressing the biggest challenges facing humanity today―protecting the planet's biodiversity and the future of our natural world.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Stephen Aitken is a biologist, author and artist of over 30 books, both fiction and non-fiction, for young readers. He is passionate about the conservation of all life on Earth, the wonders of the plant and animal kingdoms and fostering respect for the natural world in young readers. Stephen is the co-founder and Executive Secretary of Biodiversity Conservancy International, a Canadian charity based in Ottawa that restores degraded habitats, develops and conducts education programs and supports biodiversity research. He is the Editorial Director of Biodiversity, a peer-reviewed science journal. He lives in Ottawa.