Author/Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1988
Age: 4-8
Themes: wind, chaos, perspective
Opening: One afternoon in summer, the sky was clear and blue. The countryside was filled with happy beings.
Summary: (from my library catalog) The reader turns the book upside down to see what happens when a fierce wind blows through a country town one afternoon, affecting many different people and animals out enjoying the summer air.
I like this book because: I love novelty books that invite the reader to interact and see things from another perspective – sometimes literally! The strength and energy brought with the pencil illustrations refreshing now, maybe because we see less of it in contemporary picture books. Both the humor and the interaction is something kids would return for , and that’s all a creator wants – for kids to return!
Resources/activities: look at more books that either break the 4th wall (The Monster at the End of This Book), ask the reader to move the book (Shake the Tree!), or break the idea of what we assume picture books to be (Peter Newell Books).
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 
How much fun is this book?! I love that kids get to flip around the book, and the pencil drawings look so kid-friendly. I’m not sure if I can get a copy of this book as it was published back in 1988. Maybe Amazon will have a copy. Fingers crossed. Thanks for another great picture book review.
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I got it through our interlibrary loan system – I’m on a Lobel crush!
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I just looked up the book on Amazon. Are you sitting down? Good. The most expensive and newest copy can be purchased for $478.00. Yes, there were some copies in ‘good’ condition for much less.
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YIKES!
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WOW, Leslie. Try the interlibrary loan… I’ll see if mine has or can get it. THanks Julie for the heads up on this interesting book.
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No worries, Maria, Amazon has the book for lots less, and yes, my library is able to get the book, I checked.
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Oh, oh, this is a Nobel one I don’t know at all. Why. great find. He was ahead of his time in many ways.
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What fun – pictures that mean something no matter which way you turn them. Too bad my maps never do that!
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Haha! They do work upside down! You just have to stand on your head to read them!
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I have some memory of reading this book to my daughter in the early 90s. I agree with your thoughts about pencil illustrations as they add so much more depth. Wonderful choice today!
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