A sumptuously illustrated and lyrically written book, Wild is the Wind cleverly links two stories, the migration of swifts and the nature and power of the wind. The animals in the background of the first spread tells us that we begin in Africa where Cassi finally sees the swifts leaving as summer ends and the wind that will carry them across the globe arrives. The wind’s story then takes over, although the swifts are always there in the picture. We see how, over millennia, the wind has shaped the earth and powered sail and energy. Eventually, following paths ‘through the pathless sky’, the birds arrive at their destination – China, where they finally settle to nest and raise young before setting off once again on their return journey. This is interesting for those of us in the UK, who are more familiar with the swifts’ migration to our skies.
My only slight criticism is that on some spreads the font colour does not show up well on the illustrated background, making it difficult to read for some. Otherwise, a beautifully illustrated and written book for sharing. Age range 6-9.
Pam Dowson
Wild is the Wind written and illustrated by Grahame Baker-Smith
Templar
ISBN 9781787417854
£12.99
