Quiet Books

Svetlana and Alex (son)

By Tara Ryazansky

Photos by Kate Moriashcha

Keeping small children entertained for any length of time can be a challenge. Svetlana Kizilova, the founder of Sketch Design Quiet Books, has a solution that doesn’t require WiFi. Quiet books aren’t your typical board book. “It’s not a book that you read. It’s like a book and interactive toy that a child can play with,” Kizilova says. “Quiet books aren’t just designed for play, they help kids learn, explore different textures and develop fine motor skills by doing some easy tasks. The child can also get a lot of cool practical skills like brushing teeth.”

Touch and Learn

Kizilova flips to a page that shows a felt face witha mouth that opens to reveal its teeth. The child can use a small toothbrush to clean the character’s teeth. Another one of her books is sort of like a portable dollhouse. Each page has a different room where a removable doll can do activities like taking a bath or cooking in a kitchen. She has a similar version with a dog instead of a doll. “For little kids, it’s important because they want to touch everything and see how it works. With these books, they can touch and they can learn. They can learn colors, learn counting, and shapes, and a lot of different stuff,” she says, adding that she has infantsafe

options that are great for babies and more advanced options for older children. “When I had my child I was looking for some good toys and they were difficult to find. I don’t like little children looking at iPhones, iPads or playing with electronics. I think it’s not too healthy,” Kizilova explains. “I was looking for something different and I found these books on Etsy. You can find some quiet books on Amazon, but they are pretty bad quality.” Kizilova says that these books are popular in Eastern Europe where she’s from. Kizilova moved here from Ukraine in 2015.

“I thought, why not make one?” Kizilova has a sewing and design background because she worked in coat making in Ukraine. She created a quiet book for her son and he loved it.

Help From My Friends

“At the playground, many women started to ask, ‘What is it? Where did you get it?’ I started to accept orders and make books for my friends and some people from the playground. Then, I posted it on Facebook and I got so many comments and so many women reached out asking me to make a book for them.” Sketch Design Quiet Books grew into an online shop. “When I started it was just me, but now I have a small team of some friends who are helping me and we’re hoping to grow.”

EDUCATION BLP

Emily

Alex

Daughter, Emily

SPRING | SUMMER 2022 ~ BLP• 43

EDUCATION BLP

Kizilova says that she also gets help from a very important co-worker. “My son helps me a lot right now. When he was a baby, he helped me to design and create some new pages because I could see what he likes more and I created more pages according to his and his friends’ interests. Now, I can get real help from him. Sometimes he helps me sew letters for the names for personalization. He helps with cutting and putting everything together sometimes. He also helps me pack everything.”

Svetlana

Family First

Kizilova has a stock ofbooks that are for sale, but unfortunately, production has halted for now. The books are made with fabric and other accessories that Kizilova sources from Ukraine. As the country is being invaded by Russia, Kizilova is unable to get high-quality supplies to make quiet books. It’s been a difficult time for Kizilova, who has many friends and relatives back in Ukraine.

“I stopped working a little bit because I was so upset with the situation in Ukraine,” Kizilova says. “In the first days and first weeks I was just crying and so depressed and then I realized I need to do something. I teamed up with my friend, who is from Ukraine, too. We’re trying to raise money to help a maternity hospital because this girl has a connection. We want to provide some formula and diapers for these kids.” Kizilova is donating half of the income from Sketch Design Quiet Books to volunteer efforts and Ukrainian organizations. “At least it’s something,” she says. “It’s the least I can do.” “Every page in my books is made to develop some skill. I love that the child can play like hours with these books. — BLP

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