When the Wind Blows - Hardcover

Sweeney, Linda Booth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399160159 ISBN 13: 9780399160158

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2015

Synopsis

Spring weather can be exciting! 

When wind chimes start singing and clouds race across the sky, one little guy knows just what to do—grab his kite!

But as the kite soars, the wind picks up even more, and soon he and his grandma are chasing the runaway kite into town. As they pass swirling leaves, bobbing boats, and flapping scarves, breezes become gusts and the sky darkens. Rain is on the way! Can they squeeze in one more adventure before the downpour?

Scenes rich with springtime details for little eyes to follow and lyrical verse that captures the changeable mood of the weather make this perfect for spring story times.

About this title

About the Author

Linda Booth Sweeney wrote this book after nearly floating away in a windstorm while on a walk with her then-toddler son. They both thought it was hilarious and have enjoyed wild and woolly storms ever since. Linda is the author of three nonfiction books: The Systems Thinking Playbook, When a Butterfly Sneezes, and Connected Wisdom. This is her first children’s book.
Linda lives near Boston with her husband, three children, Rugby the dog, Boo the parakeet, Cinnamon Bun the rabbit, and a gecko named Gregg.

Jana Christy did much of the art for this book during hurricane-force winds on a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia—flags flapped and walls shook in a house that looks remarkably like the house in this story. She loves drawing girls with attitude, boys with pluck, the chickens that wander around her garden, punks, robots, cavemen and zombies, bleak weather, windy days, sea creatures, and more. She loves creating handmade minibooks with her husband, exploring new places with her children, and letting her brain and brushes wander. She lives in North Adams, Massachusetts.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—For many people, a windstorm might be reason to stay inside safe and sound. However, the family in this book looks at a windy day as an adventurous day for kite-flying fun. Simple, rhythmic two-word phrases appear on each page in four-line stanza. "When the wind blows" repeats every three stanzas to create a dependable structure in this poetic text. Strong verbs such as "whistles," "flicker," "swish," and "clang" allow readers to experience the blustery day with sounds, feeling, and imagery. The rhythm of the book seems to mimic the steady blow of the wind on each page. Young readers will enjoy following the story in the supporting gorgeous watercolor images as they watch the winds pick up speed, sending the family on a wild chase trying to catch their kite, and making a groom lose his hat on his wedding day. Older readers can dive deep into the rich language of each page. This story line spans multiple pages, and readers will enjoy looking for the hat and kite throughout the book. Each illustration supports the text with each noun appearing in the image with many additional details, which can offer young readers an "I spy" opportunity on each page. As the rain and wind pick up, the family makes its way back inside to the familiar routines of getting ready for bed. This book will be a great bedtime story, and educators will appreciate the descriptive language when teaching creative writing and poetry. A welcome addition to collections.—Andy Plemmons, David C. Barrow Elementary, Athens, GA

Edition details

• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0399160159
• ISBN 13: 9780399160158
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Christy Jana