Big Wind Coming! - Hardcover

English, Karen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807507261 ISBN 13: 9780807507261

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co, 1996

Synopsis

When Sarah and her family realize a hurricane is headed toward their farm, they board up the windows, collect their candles and flashlights, and wait, but Sarah begins to worry about her favorite doll.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews

A hurricane is coming: Grandpa knows it because something about the air feels strange, Grandma knows it because her cake falls, and the animals know it, too. Bessie the cow ``stood so still as if she was holding her breath. But the chickens kept squawking and wouldn't stop.'' A rural African-American family gets ready for the storm, boarding up windows and storing drinking water. Neighbors who live near the river come for the duration, bringing along their most valued possessions. When Sarah Ann can't find her doll, she runs out into the rising wind to look for it. She is dragged back just in time. Using concrete details and well-placed dialogue, English (Neeny Coming, Neeny Going, p. 225) conveys the suspense surrounding really big storms. Lucas's moody, windswept watercolors are a perfect match for the text. Most have textured streaks suggestive of wind and rain, but the illustration of children playing checkers while the eye of the storm passes has a smooth black background that captures the unearthly calm in the middle of chaos. A beautiful book. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-7. With wind storms so frequently in the news, a picture book about living through one could be useful. Although flawed, this does capture the experience of being out in a "big wind." An African American family learns that a storm is on the way, so it heads to the cellar, but young Sarah Ann sneaks away to find her doll. It takes most of the family to get her to safety. After the storm, there is considerable damage, but at least Sarah Ann finds her doll, and the family members know that together they can rebuild. Readers will sympathize with the family (and identify with Sarah Ann's desire for her doll), but there are lots of confusing details. The family doesn't seem to get its weather news from television; rather, Grandpa says the air feels strange, and Papa notes a mule acting oddly. Grandma does say that she's heard on the radio that a storm's coming but knows for sure because her cake didn't rise. (Kids certainly need an explanation about this.) The calm at the eye of the storm the family experiences is defined. The well-executed watercolor art has a textured look that suits the motion of the story. Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0807507261
• ISBN 13: 9780807507261
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Lucas Cedric