The Rhinos Next Door

The Rhino's Next Door is a charming children's book that follows a group of animals living in a bustling apartment building. Every day, the residents hear noises echoing through the halls, from loud thumps and creaks to rumbling sounds that shake the floor. The animals, from the lions and giraffes to the noisy monkeys, all quickly jump to conclusions, blaming the rhinos who live next door. They insist that every time the rhinos walk, the building trembles, and they are convinced that the noisy rumblings must come from their large, heavy neighbors.

As the story unfolds, the animals become more and more certain that the rhinos are responsible for the strange disturbances, yet we don't know what the Rhinos are up to. Are they playing video games? Tapdancing? Playing Basketball? Each page we discover that the true culprits are actually their fellow tenants—each animal has been making noises in their own way. In the end, the book teaches children the importance of not jumping to conclusions and of understanding that things aren't always as they seem. The rhinos, in their calm and peaceful way, turn out to be the quietest neighbors after all.

Ben Romano is the Musician in Residence for the Marlene Meyerson JCC of Manhattan. He lives with his wife, Rabbi Bailey Romano and his cat, Motzi Lechem in Brooklyn. His works are inspired by his passion for multi-arts collaboration and creativity in education. If you like the Rhinos Next Door you might want to check it his first work, "I Have a Choice."