The Christmas Wind

by Stephanie Simpson McLellan, Brooke Kerrigan (Illustrator)

The wind elbowed Jo’s mother and kicked her to the ground. “Stop it!” Jo shook her fist at the sky. Ignoring her, the wind stole her scarf and blew out the light. Her plan was to be on a bus halfway to someplace else by now, but they weren’t even close to the station. She pulled her mother to her feet. With a howl, the wind forced them off the road and into the prickly fields.

This starkly beautiful story highlights the heroic spirit of a young girl and the generosity of a stranger in a book that reveals what the real spirit of Christmas is all about.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Canada

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Stephanie Simpson McLellan is also known as Stephanie McLellan


Stephanie Simpson McLellan has written for magazines and children's television in addition to penning award-winning picture books. A big fan of children's books, Stephanie wrote the children's book reviews for Today's Parent magazine for twelve years. She lives in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Aleks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad that there was a happy ending.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited and pleased to win a copy of 'The Christmas Wind' from Goodreads. 'The Christmas Wind' is a story about a young girl, Jo, who is struggling to find shelter for her mother Merry, who is ill, and her baby brother, Christopher. While this story also has a manger and a grumpy owner of that manger, the plot differs from the biblical Christmas story. McLellan's story emphasizes the strength and perseverance of the little girl and the realization that even 'grumpy, old men' can be caring and open. One could listen to a narration of the story and be mesmerized by Stephanie McLellan's use of descriptive words; however if you did so you would miss out on the lovely and complimentary illustrations by Brooke Kerrigan. The book is fun to read and look through. Despite its Christmas theme, it's message is perfect year round.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Christmas Wind” which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is a beautifully illustrated and touching story about a young girl, her sick mother and baby brother who are forced to take shelter from the howling wind. After laying her brother in a manger in a barn “near a simple house” she returns with her mother only to find him missing. Growling the name “Franklin Murdoch” in a rage, she grabs a shovel and stomps across the yard to face the owner.

This is a story that vibrates with the true meaning of Christmas as Jo bravely confronts a solitary local farmer known for his gruffness only to be swept away by his generosity of spirit. Stirring with its sense of loss, hope and healing, this children’s story although short in length is powerful as it tugs at your heart strings.

Children will quickly identify with the characters that breathe life into the plot. They’ll love the courage of feisty, protective young Jo and the caring benevolence of the farmer who seems rejuvenated by their presence in his home.

I loved “The Christmas Wind” with its tender story and exquisite artwork. This is a treasure which will be given a special place in the children’s section of my local library.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads for this giveaway. It is a lovely book and I look forward to reading it to my granddaughter this Christmas.

[Susan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and lyrically written with gentle accompanying artwork that enhances the text, this book is a Christmas treasure. With character names like Jo, Merry and Christopher, a barn and a manger, it hearkens back to the original Christmas story (Joseph, Mary and Christ) while giving us something fresh and contemporary. I can see myself reading this every Christmas season and making it part of our family tradition.

*Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher as a Goodreads giveaway, but my review is not impacted by the fact that it was a gift.*

[Sheryl Normandeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very intrigued by the massive storytelling project that accompanied the creation of Stephanie Simpson McLellan’s picture book The Christmas Wind. The W.I.N.D. (Words Igniting Notional Drawings) Project – where McLellan organized for 1,700 children in schools across Canada (as well as in Australia) to listen to a serialization of her story over several weeks and then generate their own drawings of the scenes in the book – is creative and inspiring. Apparently, over 13,000 drawings were made, by children as young as four years of age. It appears that this eagerly-received literacy project may be used with other applications in the future as well, which is fantastic. The illustrations in the published copies of the book were produced by artist Brooke Kerrigan, and are stunningly beautiful. McLellan’s version of the traditional Biblical Christmas story features Jo, a young girl struggling in bitter winter cold, looking frantically for a safe haven for her ill mother and her baby brother. When they stumble onto the property of their rural community’s most notorious curmudgeon, she has no choice but to seek help from him – and learn a lesson about the magic of the season. Jo is strong, feisty, and the capable, if desperate and (slightly off-puttingly) aggressive, caretaker of her family – and the moody tone is a good metaphor for the freezing wind and the adversity Jo faces.

[Syndi Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was the lucky winner of a copy of this novel through a goodreads win. it is a lovely story about a young girl (jo) who is trying to get her mom and baby brother to a bus station so they could be somewhere else. the baby is a newborn and the mother is very sick.they are walking on a country road in winter and they see a barn to shelter in from the cold wind. the barn belongs to a grouchy old man who had lost his baby and wife on christmas eve long ago. jo makes it to the barn with the baby and returns to help her mother across the field. when she gets her mother to the barn the baby is missing. the farmer had taken the baby into the house to warm up. jo and her mother end up in the house too,and then it is christmas. syndi

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Christmas Wind by Stephanie Simpson McLellan, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan. Red Deer Press (Fitzhenry), 2018. $20. 9780889955349

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

On Christmas Eve, Jo, her mother, and her little brother are on the way to anywhere else. The bitter wind pushes them to a barn owned by a bitter, lonely farmer. Maybe they can hide in there for the night. But when Jo settles the baby and goes for her mother, the baby has disappeared! IS there room for all of them in the farmhouse? Is there kindness in the farmer’s heart?

One of my favorite Christmas books is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. It felt like this book wanted to be that book, but it just doesn’t make it. There is room in a picture book for just bit more to cement the story – it just doesn’t quite get there.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Sean Rowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fictional book for 2nd to 4th graders is a story of Christmas eve kindness as a farmer finds a family in his barn and decides to let the sick mother, young baby brother and snarky sister stay at his home to be be safe for the night. I like the character of the little girl who is intrusive and bossy but also caring and protective. The farmer is put into a unique situation with a sick and passed out mother and her two children are in his barn and he has no phone to get them help, so he becomes the help and Santa Claus at the same time. This book also has nice illustrations done by Brooke Kerrigan that are simplistic and beautiful at the same time. I like this story and I would recommend it to young readers.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those picture books I picked up for the cover and was so glad I did. The Christmas Wind beautifully portrays the strength and resilience of children though Jo, a ready-to-fight hero determined to take her brother and mother away from a home that is possibly abusive. Blown to a feared neighbor's home by a relentless wind, Jo will challenge her assumptions and discover that not everyone intends harm. Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, The Christmas Wind is a story worth of the bookshelf any time of year.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start this review by saying that I won a copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway.

I enjoyed this children's novel, It was very kind and showed gratitude on Christmas for a family in need. I think this is a great lesson or attribute to teach kids, I also believe however that the story seemed it was a bit cut short. It could have been ended better to give a full understanding of what happens to the entire family.
It was a very cute story though.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of homelessness due to having to get away is beautifully told. Jo, her mother, and her new baby brother left home and are out in the cold and wind trying to make it to the bus. Her mother is weak, so they are trying to find shelter. Jo finds a barn to hide in for warmth, but the owner discovers them. What could have been an even worse situation turns into something special for everyone. Lovely illustrations.

[Taylor Relacion · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Christmas Wind, a young girl named Jo, her sick mother and baby brother are forced to take shelter from the howling wind on Christmas Eve. After laying her brother in a manger in a barn she returns with her mother only to find him missing. Screaming the name “Franklin Murdoch” she grabs a shovel and stomps across the yard to face the owner. As Jo bravely confronts a solitary local farmer known for his gruffness, but is swept away by his generosity of spirit. I would recommend this book for upper elementary because the theme is more complex.
I would use this in my classroom during Christmas time and I think that this is a mighty girl book and that a lot of students can connect with characteristics of hers. I enjoyed the theme of this book and the very beautiful illustrations that felt very comfortable.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too young for this award

[Mary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Christmas miracle story complete with a baby in a manger, a star, a scrooge, lives saved and changes of heart.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a moving story! And all the various descriptors for the winter wind were spot-on.

[Chrisanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. Wasn't feeling the dramatics. And really was hoping it was for kids instead of adults.

[teleri · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story, though maybe a bit old for the girls.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story. 🌲🌬️. I love heartfelt Christmas stories so much.