Actor Simu Liu has brought joy and entertainment to millions around the world as Marvel’s Shang-Chi — and now he’s ready for his big debut in elementary school classrooms and local libraries. The actor, stunt person, author, and singer is the latest reader for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s global children’s literacy program Storyline Online®, bringing the captivating and poetic children’s book The Sound of Silence, written by Katrina Goldsaito and illustrated by Julia Kuo, to life.
The Sound of Silence tells the story of Yoshio, who lives in Tokyo, Japan. Yoshio is learning how to navigate a giant, noisy, busy city. He hears shoes squishing through puddles, trains whooshing, cars beeping, and families laughing. Tokyo is like a symphony hall! Where is silence? Simu Liu brilliantly and poignantly delivers how Yoshio was able to discover the most beautiful sound in the city – silence.
Liu, who is familiar with the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, is able to capture the essence of Goldsaito’s message throughout this moving story. Her words are brought to life with Kuo’s illustrations of contemporary Japanese landscapes and traditional housing styles, which will transport children from around the world to the streets of Tokyo.
Simu Liu joins the illustrious cast of Storyline Online readers including Angela Bassett, Kristen Bell, Connie Britton, Keith Carradine, Terry Crews, Viola Davis, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Garner, John Lithgow, Rami Malek, Seth Meyers, Holly Robinson Peete, Chris Pine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Justin Theroux, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Yeoh, and dozens more who volunteered their time and talent to promote literacy, and inspire a love of reading in hundreds of millions of children worldwide.