Windchen

by Sibylle von Olfers

George is playing with his boats, but there is no wind to make them sail. Then, one of the wind children comes and blows just for him, and together they embark on a great adventure.

The wind child blows dandelions in the meadows, shakes apples from the tree, blows the leaves around, and eventually blows George back home on a cloud.

From the author of The Story of the Root Children and The Story of the Snow Children, here is another classic children's story with beautiful illustrations in the Art Nouveau style.

(Suggested ages 4-7)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Fantasy, Classics

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

Sibylle von Olfers (8 May 1881 – 29 January 1916) was a German art teacher and a nun who worked as an author and illustrator of children's books. In 1906 she published her best-known work, The Root Children (original title: Etwas von den Wurzelkindern, "Something about the children from the roots").

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful picture book is perfect for the end of summer. George is playing with his toy boat wishing for wind when a wind sprite appears. After putting wind into George’s sails they set off on an adventure and meet other nature fairy folk. George picks apples and meets the Rosehip children then swirls about with the leaf children, finally racing home on two cloud horses.

Sibylle von Olfers has an eye for beauty in nature, the illustrations are very attractive to look at and take you to a magical world of nature, inhabited by sprites and fairies who always look after you and get you home in time for tea! A gentle and reassuring read that makes a lovely bedtime story.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1910, The Story of the Wind Children ("Windchen" in the original German), was Sybille von Olfers' sixth picture-book, although it is only the third that I have been able to obtain. The story of a young boy named George, who finds himself caught up in an exciting adventure, when a wind sprite named Willow comes upon him, and sends his toy boats racing across the lake, this gentle book is a pean to Nature in general, and autumn in particular, with Leaf Children and Rosehip Children joining the eponymous Wind Children in the celebration.

von Olfers' anthropomorphic depiction of Nature, in which cherub-like beings serve the various forces - Mother Earth, the Snow Queen, the Wind - is very much in evidence here, and I think that those who appreciate her benign storytelling style, and delicate art, will be very pleased. The more I see of her work, the more I understand the comparisons to figures like Elsa Beskow, Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane. Well worth a look, for any reader who appreciates old-fashioned fairy-tales, or the Art Nouveau style!

[Jane Healy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was attracted to the cover of this book because it had such old-fashioned charm. Turns out, I was right! Sibylle von Olfers wrote and illustrated this story that was first published in 1910. It was first published by Floris Books in Edinburgh in 2006. A simple story, George stands at the edge of a lake trying to make his toy sail boats go. A wind child spies him, befriends him, and takes him on adventures through the meadows and into the clouds. We meet other characters, such as the rosehip children and the leaf children. This sweet tale ends at George's garden gate when he and the Wind Child Willow say goodbye, promising to play again tomorrow. This simple story can help readers of all ages unlock their imaginations and see the world in wonder.

[Alice Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young George encounters the wind one afternoon as he is trying to sail his toy boat. Wind and he take many adventures together throughout the day, and part ways friends.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations. The story is old fashioned and sweet, but the illustrations are the prize.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic. Simple, imaginative, and oh so lyrical.

[Diane Chaniewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one--although I am partial to a good windy day. :)

[Oak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and playful and fun - just like the wind! Late summer/fall.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nádherné ilustrace, krásný příběh.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This miniature version of a picture book tells a classic story of friendship between George and the wind child who spends the day playing with him. George is frustrated because his boats won't move on the water since there is no wind. Willow, a wind sprite, comes to his aid. They end up climbing apple trees, riding clouds, and forming a great friendship. It's a bit too short for me, but I'm sure there will be plenty of youngsters who will be enchanted by the story as they imagine what it might be like to be able to harness the wind at the snap of a finger or whenever you wished.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthropomorphizing aside, Sibylle Von Olfers was an amazing children's story teller and illustrator during the early part of the 20th c. Her works tend to focus on the natural world (albeit supernatural ala George Macdonald) and in this one the protagonist (a little boy) befriends the wind. Her books are rife with color and exploration and always center on the realm beyond surface of the imagination-driven child.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five year old has this memorized, which should be rather a boon to her vocabulary, given the old fashioned language. It's a charming, sleepy little story, very fanciful. I've noticed a move away from the fanciful in more recent childrens' literature and I think that's sad. How much fun to imagine the wind and the sun and the apples even as little friends!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is nice, but I wonder what i would be like in the Original German (I speak a little German) I wonder if the translation is close. Anyways, the story is simple and lovely and I think that is what Sibylle Von Olfers was trying to convey!

[Marmot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not as good as some of the other "T Story of the ... Children" books by this author. The root children is my favourite, then the rabbit one and snow one are next, and this one and the butterfly one could be skipped in my opinion.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a couple of years, I have been collecting two children's authors. One is Sibylle von Olfers. These books are pure joy! The story are sweet and simple and take you back to your own childhood. The illustrations are beautiful perfection.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated story of many of the nature children. This would make a fantastic early childhood puppet play.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.