The Windy Day

by G. Brian Karas

A blustery wind creates havoc in an otherwise quiet town, resulting in such unusual happenings as whirling wedding cakes, airborne alarm clocks, and bouncing bananas, until a little boy decides to greet the exciting wind. Children's BOMC.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

G. Brian Karas has illustrated close to ninety children’s books. He has also written and illustrated several titles, including HOME ON THE BAYOU, a BOSTON-GLOBE-HORN Book Honor winner. He lives in Rhinebeck, New York.

Reviews

[Katie Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about a gust of wind that goes through a very tidy town. Everyone in the town finds it as a disturbance as it sweeps away papers and makes a mess. Bernard, a little boy in the town, saw its beauty. He realized that this wind has seen many things like the Great Wall of China. Just as Bernard enjoys the wind it is gone and off to another town. This book was pretty good. I liked the illustrations because they were very different. Although, I really did not like the ending. I felt as though the story could have been a little longer to give the plot more development.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wind messes everything in the tidy town up . . . but the boy faces the wind and breathes in "air that blew the dust off pyramids, brushed the hands of Big Ben, and filled Viking sails. Air that burst from ancient volcanoes, swayed the coconut palms over Bluebeard's island, and tickled a dinosaur's chin." Lovely imagery.

[Mackenzie Stucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice book which for me talks about the beauty in things. As the wind was going throughout the tidy city and making a mess the town was so upset, but the little found the greatness in it. It’s got a great theme with great pictures and could even be talked about when talking about weather!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a normal day in a tidy little town when a breeze decides to peel off of the trade winds and pass through. A young boy is going about his day, getting dressed and eating breakfast. It's another ho hum day at school until... Whoosh! That wind comes rushing through. The wind picks up everything and carries it with it. Everyone runs from the wind. Except the young boy. Only he turns and faces the wind. As he breathes in the wind he breathes the breath of history; of wind that has past ages before him. As the wind passes on the young boy sends his name on the wind: Bernard.

So poetic and beautiful writing from Karas. His signature illustrations accompany the text.

[Andrew Stockle · Rating 1 out of 5]

“The Windy Day” is just like it sounds, it’s about a very windy day in a small tidy town and all of the joy and wonderment of one little boy. The pictures in the book are very interesting, each page looked wind-blown with debris scattered about. At times the text appears wind-blown as well. This book would be appropriate for children around age 5 who might enjoy looking at the creative pictures and learning all about the kinds of things wind blows around and where the wind may have traveled. I would use this book to introduce the concept of wind in my classroom. Overall I didn’t particularly enjoy this book.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wind from far away turns a very tidy town into a messy town. A young boy breathes in the air that has traveled the world, adding his name to it. A great book for showing how small the world can be, our connection as humans, and our connection to the past and future. Illustrations are soft, muted colors. Show the simplicity of being tidy contrasted with the complexity of the wind.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book begins with a brief glance at the lives of a tidy town. Everything is done in order. Everything is routine. Everything is expected, and then a piece of a trade wind blows in and scatters everything. A young boy doesn't see disorder as a result of the wind, he sees what the wind has been and where it has traveled. Beautiful. Fun. Happy. Silly. Imaginative. Simple.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me of the dirty kid in the Charlie Brown Christmas special who says that his dirt might have come from centuries past, who knew if even King Solomon had walked on the dirt...this same argument about where the wind has been will get imaginations going and the art is appealing.

[Janae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, but it was definitely over W's head. It's very whimsical. Book illustrates how the wind gets passed from one place to another and recycled - the breath of long ago kings and queens, dust from pyramids, and viking sails, etc.

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art, and the paper-bag-as-canvas look. The story makes you think.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

great for themes on weather and wind. perfect for a windy Butler book. a tad long and for a slightly older PSST audience. great picture book

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice.

[Rose]

JF Kar