Too Much Quiet!
Now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and local booksellers.
Patsy Beth has had it...
When second grader, Patsy Beth, goes on a field trip to the school garden she and her classmates are surprised to find many animals no longer live there. Needless to say, they are all very upset. With the help of their teacher, they come to understand vital connections in the natural environment. But that’s not enough for this inquisitive student who sets out to help nature sing again! With the help of a skillful teacher who models best practices, and is mindful of the science standards, Patsy Beth takes action!
About the Author
Kottie Christie-Blick brings 30 years of classroom experience to Too Much Quiet!, with a goal of inspiring young readers, writers, and soon-to-be nature lovers.
Kottie won multiple awards as an elementary school teacher, including an Outstanding Contribution Award from SOCES PTA (New York State), the Alexinia Baldwin Educator of the Year Award, and a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher Award from the U.S. State Department. She was a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.
Available Programs
ELA-Science integration using Too Much Quiet!
Type: Classroom | Grades: K–4 | Length: 45 minutes
Using Too Much Quiet! as a springboard, this interactive session gets young children thinking about the natural world and how we can help it thrive so we can all enjoy the beautiful sounds of nature now and in the future. Reading, singing, talking, and modeling science concepts: by the end of this session, the children are ready to do some hard work (which they learn is also rewarding, fun, and oh so interesting) to learn about the world around them. Teachers are introduced to the science resources and classroom activity guide in the book.
Make writing fun using Too Much Quiet!
Type: Assembly or Classroom | Grades: 2–4 | Length: 45 minutes
Mining Too Much Quiet! for examples of writing strategies to engage an audience, this assembly has students creating a storyboard to continue on their own back in the classroom. The author shares her inspirations and her writing process for Too Much Quiet!, helping students analyze a variety of effective writing techniques and determine which they will use for their own stories. Depth and breadth of writing skills are determined by grade level. Taking a “behind the scenes” look at how the story was created, students appreciate the number of decisions—and the power—an author has to communicate a story.
Reading with intention using Too Much Quiet!
Type: Assembly or Classroom | Grades: 2–4 | Length: 45 minutes
Reading Too Much Quiet! together, participants gain insight into the number of literary devices used by the author to create an engaging story with an important message about taking care of the environment. They analyze when and why an author uses such techniques, and how understanding these practices strengthens their own reading comprehension. Students also learn how to be better at inferring while reading, helping them catch nuances they may have previously missed, adding to their enjoyment of a story and helping them become lifelong readers.
Available Programs
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Type: Classroom | Grades: K–4 | Length: 45 minutes
Using Too Much Quiet! as a springboard, this interactive session gets young children thinking about the natural world and how we can help it thrive so we can all enjoy the beautiful sounds of nature now and in the future. Reading, singing, talking, and modeling science concepts: by the end of this session, the children are ready to do some hard work (which they learn is also rewarding, fun, and oh so interesting) to learn about the world around them. Teachers are introduced to the science resources and classroom activity guide in the book.
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Type: Assembly or Classroom | Grades: 2–4 | Length: 45 minutes
Mining Too Much Quiet! for examples of writing strategies to engage an audience, this assembly has students creating a storyboard to continue on their own back in the classroom. The author shares her inspirations and her writing process for Too Much Quiet!, helping students analyze a variety of effective writing techniques and determine which they will use for their own stories. Depth and breadth of writing skills are determined by grade level. Taking a “behind the scenes” look at how the story was created, students appreciate the number of decisions—and the power—an author has to communicate a story.
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Type: Assembly or Classroom | Grades: 2–4 | Length: 45 minutes
Reading Too Much Quiet! together, participants gain insight into the number of literary devices used by the author to create an engaging story with an important message about taking care of the environment. They analyze when and why an author uses such techniques, and how understanding these practices strengthens their own reading comprehension. Students also learn how to be better at inferring while reading, helping them catch nuances they may have previously missed, adding to their enjoyment of a story and helping them become lifelong readers.
Additional Information
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Too Much Quiet! is an engaging and delightul picture book that follows second grader Patsy Beth as she learns about the interconnections of the natural world in science class. She and her kindergarten brother Jay (often referred to as PB&J by their parents) discover how studying nature can inspire action, build home-school partnerships, and unite families in unexpected ways. Whether you’re a curious kid, a dedicated teacher, or a loving parent (grandparent, aunt, or uncle), you’ll enjoy reading Too Much Quiet! and thinking of ways to help nature sing.
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People and nature are intertwined
Curiosity can lead to interesting activities
Science is understanding the world around us
School is interesting and fun
Children benefit when parents and teachers work together
Young children can take action to help the environment
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An engaging and joyful story
Heartwarming characters
Delightful illustrations
Activities for children and grown-ups to do together
Appeals to children, parents, grandparents, and teachers
Opportunity for further engagement on the Too Much Quiet! website
Fits with schools’ science program and Next Generation Science Standards
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