Comes a Wind [Hardcover]

Linda Arms White (Author), Tom Curry (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Melanie Kroupa Books

Ever since they were little, Clement and Clyde had tried to best each other. But on Mama's birthday, they vow to get along and keep the peace. And they do... until a gently breeze stirs up their imaginations and blows away their common sense. Then these two can't resist topping each other with one windy tale after another ("You call that a wind? Why, one day it was so windy...") until, having been completely oblivious to how windy it's become, they finally notice that the wind has picked up practically everything in sight--the chickens, cows, outhouse, even Mama herself! Clement and Clyde do stop squabblin', at least long enough to work together to rescue Mama, in this wry, funny tale about sibling rivalry and one-upmanship. Illustrated in blazing southwestern colors and full of witty details, this is a tall tale that will have young and old alike laughing out loud. Yahoo!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-Brothers Clement and Clyde have spent their lives one-upping each other. Just before her birthday, their mother invites her grown sons to her ranch, requesting that, "Just once, I'd like to pass the day with you two boys and no squabblin'!" When a wind comes up as they sit on Mama's porch, the brothers can't resist telling tales about winds they've experienced: "You call that a wind?-Why, one day it was so windy, it ripped our clothes plumb off the line-My Mimi's dainties landed on that Texas Ranger statue in front of town hall. Now that was a wind!" When the real wind tops all the tall tales, blowing Mama and her birthday cake up onto the weathervane, Clement and Clyde cooperate to rescue her, pleasing the woman with their efforts and causing all three to agree, "Now that was a wind!" Curry's folk-art style acrylic paintings, featuring chickens whose feathers have been plucked by the gale, a tuba player who has had his instrument blown around his body, exaggerated bowlegs on the brothers, and electric-blue hair on Mama, make a perfect accompaniment to White's witty tall tale. In a subtle touch, Curry's illustrations remain within the frame except when that real wind starts a-blowin. Even if they've never experienced a determined prairie wind or sibling rivalry, readers will be blown away by this amusing book.
Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

All Mama wants for her birthday is her two sons to get along for the day, instead of engaging in their usual one-upmanship. Clement and Clyde are grown-ups now, but much as they'd like to please their Mama, they can't resist competition. They scoff at each other's descriptions of a big wind, and each tells a bigger story, always ending, "That was a wind!" But when a real wind blows up and Mama blows away, her two boys manage to cooperate and rescue her. The Texas-twang of the brothers' tall tales are matched by the zesty, comical acrylic illustrations. The final spread shows the two men in their huge cowboy hats sitting atop the barn with their blue-haired mother in between them, pink birthday cake safely in her lap. Get story times off to a rollicking start with this one. Susan Dove Lempke

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789426013
• ISBN-13: 978-0789426017
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,815,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DK Ink Blows You Away With Another Fantastical Tale!!, August 6, 2000

By 

Frank Murphy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comes a Wind (Hardcover)

The DK INK logo on the cover blowing away along with the title characters, and all else doesn't prepare you for the tall tales of the windiest kind told by two brothers always trying to best eachother! This book is another perfect read aloud from Editor Melanie Kroupa! She develops every part of a picture book (from the blowing logo to the interesting author's & illustrator's bio on the flap - it all works perfectly!!) Buy this one before they all blow off the shelves!!!!!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tall Tale Fun, April 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Comes a Wind (Hardcover)

These Texas-style tall tales about Texas-style wind are sure to make readers laugh--Although here in Texas we know these tales aren't so far from the truth! Everyone who has a sister or brother will recognize themselves in Clement and Clyde's constant competition.

The illustrations are wonderful--as funny as the text. (Take a close look at the cover--the title, author's and illustrator's names, even the publisher's logo, all are blowing away.)

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly funny., May 8, 2011

By 

V.N.G. (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Comes a Wind (Hardcover)

I think my kid knows this book by heart already, because I have to read it to him literally every day - and I don't mind! The story is full of surprises and hilarious descriptions of exaggerated events. Love it!