Listen to the Wind (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Susan Roth (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: Sher Takhi, Haji All

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 4—Holding true to the original title for adults, Three Cups of Tea (Viking, 2006), this moving story will amaze and inspire young readers. After getting lost while climbing the world's second tallest mountain, the K2 in the Baltistan region of Pakistan, Mortenson, a nurse, stumbled into a small village and learned of the dire circumstances in which local people lived. While recovering, Dr. Greg met the children of Korphe, who were eager to learn but were forced to write their lessons with sticks on the ground. Wanting to do something special for the village, he was encouraged by wise man Haji Ali to "listen to the wind." Dr. Greg listened, heard the eager voices of students at their lessons, and promised to return to build a school. The remarkable account of this quest, which involved constructing a bridge and manually carrying supplies to the building site, is magnificently enhanced by Roth's colorful collages. As explained in an artist's note, she incorporated fabric, bits of paper, and other fibers into the scenery in appreciation of the Balti people's aesthetic use of scraps. "A Korphe Scrapbook" follows the story, displaying photographs of the events, the village's inhabitants, and the librarian who helped to fill this school and the 57 more schools that have since been built in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Readers are informed that it is easy to make a difference by donating pennies to support education in impoverished countries. This truly exceptional and moving title should not be missed.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* Best-selling author Mortenson told his remarkable story in the adult book Three Cups of Tea (2006). After getting lost while trying to climb the mountain K2, he found himself in a Pakistani village. This, as it turned out was the beginning of a different journey. Here Mortenson and Roth retell his remarkable story through the eyes of Pakistani children. After being rescued and nursed to health by the villagers, Mortenson wonders what he can do to thank them. Advised by a wise elder to “listen to the wind,” Mortenson becomes aware of children’s voices, children he has helped teach during his convalescence, and he decides to build them a school. The steep terrain and remote setting present nearly overwhelming obstacles, but finally, the school is opened with great celebration. The picture-book narrative successfully compresses Mortenson’s story by focusing on the elements most important to children: the stranger’s appearance, the drama of the construction, the happy conclusion. Colorful fabric, cut-paper, and even computer-chip collages portray the dramatic landscape and incredible undertaking. Children will also enjoy an appended scrapbook of photographs, maps, and additional information. Pair this with Shazi Razzak’s P Is for Pakistan (2007). Grades 1-3. --Linda Perkins

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; First edition (January 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803730586
• ISBN-13: 978-0803730588
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #654 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational story, gorgeous artwork, January 22, 2009

By	Julie Neal "The Complete Walt Disney World" (Sanibel Island, Fla.) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The subhead is "The story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea," and so it is. This is a child's picture book that tells the inspirational true story of Greg Mortenson and his tireless efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson's book about the experience, Three Cups of Tea, is a worldwide bestseller. Since the topic is about kids, this picture book and the newly published Three Cups of Tea: The Young Reader's Edition, should resonate with children.

In 1993, Mortenson got lost in the mountains of Pakistan after turning back from a failed attempt at climbing K2. He stumbled into Korphe, a poor village, where the townspeople nursed him back to health. As he was recuperating, Mortenson was shocked to learn the village's children had no school, with lessons taught outside just three days a week. Kids learned to write using sticks in the dirt. To repay the village's kindness, the Montana native promised to return, and help build a school.

Mortenson did come back to Korphe, and has indeed helped build not just one but fifty-five schools -- many for girls -- in the impoverished region.

The idea of "three cups of tea" comes from the village chief, Haji Ali. "With the first cup of tea you are a stranger, with the second you become a friend, and with the third, you join our family."

Even if I wasn't drawn in by the story, I'd be tempted to buy Listen to the Wind just for the artwork. Artist Susan L. Roth used a variety of materials to create the colorful collages on each page. An artist's note in the back explains that Roth was inspired by actual artifacts from the region, in which nothing ever goes to waste. A woman's hat was "like a sculpture of cloth fragments, bright colored yarn and metal accents," including an actual computer chip.

Also in the back are photo-filled scrapbook pages, showing the completed school and Korphe villagers.

A story like this should help kids feel closer to children in other parts of the world, as if they had actually shared that third cup of tea.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Share this book with everyone!!!, February 4, 2009

By	Cheryl M. Chapman "Apple Fritter" (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a recently retired teacher of young children, I've already purchased 2 copies of this book, recommended it to all of my teacher friends, other friends, my school, my local libraries, and I even sent a copy to my last year's penpal class in Germany!!! The beautiful and brilliant colors of the artwork simply leap out and amaze you. Every single page is full of the artistically intricate details that children treasure and use for inspiration in their own creations. When I saw that THREE CUPS OF TEA was "translated" into the universal language of art and kid-speak, it was so exciting, because how many picture books translate the beauty of family life in the Middle East into something that Westerners will appreciate and love? Both Mortenson and Roth demonstrate courage and respect, both to the kids of Korphe and to their readers, as they use just the right words and the thoroughly engaging artwork to enable American kids to "befriend" through literatuare kids who happen to live in a war-torn region.This book is a gift; it will do for American minds what Pennies for Peace does for the Central Asia Institute's schools: Creat a better world through education! Teachers, librarians, parents - you might be grownups, but you will cherish this story too. I wish I could give this book 100 stars!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book stopped me dead in my tracks!, February 5, 2009

By	Laura C. Davis "Laura" (Stow, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking for a read-aloud book for my 4th grade class, and opted for a short picture book. When I saw 'Listen to the Wind' on display at my local bookstore, it literally stopped me dead in my tracks. The cover was colorful, and the fabric seemed to jump off the pages. It was though I could feel the softeness of the clothing and feel the roughness of the terrain. I'd previously read 'Three Cups of Tea' and was very excited when I saw the reference. After flipping through the pages and reading the shortened version of my favorite story, I knew this was perfect for my students. I sat in the car in the parking lot and read it from cover to cover, crying through each page. The artistry helped remind me of the beautiful story of Dr. Greg. This book has been added to my 'must have' list. Thank you, Susan Roth, your success in bringing this book to life.