Here’s my Perfect Picture Book Friday choice:
Windblown
Written and Illustrated by Édouard Manceau
Translated by Sarah Quinn
OwlKids, North American Edition, 2013
First published in France in 2011 a Merci, le vent!
Fiction
Suitable for: Ages 3-7
Themes: Animals, Shapes, Imagination, Weather
Opening Lines: One tiny scrap of paper …
{Next double spread} Look, there’s another!
Synopsis: From the jacket — Colorful and oddly shaped scraps of paper blow in the wind. One by one, they take shape, transforming into animals — each one with its own story to tell. The wind has its own ideas about where they came from and what they mean. What do you think?
Link to Resources: Owl Kids Books has the shapes from Windblown on its website. So, you can create your own animals or make the ones in the book. You can also find scraps of paper and create your own animals.
Why I like this book: I randomly spotted this at the library before a meeting.
The cover is simple. The beginning hooked me. I wanted to see how this would unfold. A variety of animals begin to claim the scraps of paper until the wind takes credit and blows the shapes to the reader.
For author and illustrators, you may want to visit Édouard Manceau’s blog. He has some videos on his site. If you speak French or can figure out how to translate his blog.
Find more PPBF at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
Next week, I hope to have my Halloweensie entry completed to post.
Looks pretty!
It’s very simple and fun.
Now I am intrigued! I must know what those shapes became! And the idea of windblown randomness taking shape… you hooked me!
It hooked me too. Hope you can find and enjoy it Sue.
Merci bien! This reminds me of a new book I want to review (but my copy hasn’t come yet!) by Denise Fleming called GO, SHAPES! I’ve seen the trailer and it’s got a similar shape-arranging plot. I’ll be sure to link to this review so readers can compare.
Oh, I’m looking up the trailer right now. This book would make a neat app, if you could move the shapes around to create different animals and things.
That sounds funky, Stacy. We’ve got windy ones today.
Yes.I like the one you profiled too!
Seems to be a windy day on PPBF!! I like windy days! This book sounds pretty fun! I think I might need it in my book bag. Thanks for sharing!!
The cover was not what I expected when I saw the link over on PPBF. This looks innovative and amazing. Thanks! It’s one of those books that seems easy to miss.
True. It was so simply it caught my eye.
Clever concept! Not your “run of the mill” picture book. Thanks for sharing this one, Stacy.
It is unique Jarm.
Sweet, simple, fun! Great pick, Stacy.
Well said Julie. That could have been my entire post Sweet, simple, fun!
Love the pun “How it would unfold.” 😀 Or maybe fold? This one sounds very interesting! Thanks for highlighting!
🙂 It’s a fun one.
I really like stories outside the box. It really encourages imagination! Will definitely check out this one.
We like using our imagination. (As I’m typing this, Enzo just used a long piece of packing paper like a firehose!)
What fun and imagination. Next life I want to do children’s books. I love the special creative element to it.
Lots of creativity in all forms of writing and storytelling Sue. Children’s books are really taking the experience to another level in recent years.
Thanks so much for introducing me to another francophone artist!
This sounds delightful! Thank you, Stacy!
This one sounds especially clever and creative – and fun to “imitate!” Will have to give this one a look for sure!
This looks simple, fun, and delightful, Stacy! And how fun that you can make your own animal shapes or try the ones from the book! Love the cover – it would have made me pick it up too 🙂