Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

"Listen to the earth’s natural rhythm…To play the drum, one must remember every drum stroke is a rhythm” are beautiful words taken from The Drum With No Sound by Katrina Rahman-Stephens. This beautifully illustrated children's picture book sets the stage in Nigeria and tells the story of the journey of a young boy, Tunji. As a young child, Tunji's father, the king, taught him how to play the djembe (drum). Every day Tunji looked forward to and loved to play the drum and hear its sounds as it was played also throughout the village. One morning he woke up and realized that he could no longer hear its rhythmic patterns and energy. Why? What happened? How can the King and Queen of Nigeria help their son?

The Drum With No Sound by Katrina Rahman-Stephens is a wonderful story because it tells us that nothing is promised so don't take life for granted. Also, the things that we learn and are taught are to be used for the next level of our lives. As a child, the king taught Tunji to play the djembe, and he also emphasized the importance of listening to the earth’s natural rhythm for guidance as he played. Despite the challenges that Tunji faced, he was able to get back the passion of embracing the drums while keeping his dad's words of wisdom at the forefront of his passion. If you're looking for a book of overcoming challenges, love, and culture, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.