Customer Reviews

Listen to the Wind

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

"Three Cups of Tea" was the inspirational story of how one man, Greg Mortenson made a difference in the lives of children in the mountainous region of Central Asia, through his foundation the Central Asia Institute and also Pennies for Peace. The book focused on the fundraising initiatives and how Greg and his team were eventually able to build dozens of schools in the region.

I was delighted when I found out that there was children's version of this book, i.e. a picture book that I could share with my 4 year-old daughter. In 'Listen to the Wind", illustrator Susan Roth uses collages [made using fabric, cut paper and other items] to help Greg tell his story in a manner that will be accessible to younger children. The collages are simply beautiful and will inspire readers to try their own collage projects at home [my daughter and I were]. For those young readers who are curious about the actual place and people in the story, there is a scrapbook in the book that contains photographs of Korphe and its' people.

This is essential for all school and public libraries. The story is inspiring and teaches about charity - in "Listen to the Wind", younger children will be able to share in this true-life hope-filled story of one man's courage and determination to make a difference, and of the hope given to the people in Central Asia.

Listen to the Wind re-tells the story of Greg Mortenson, the secular saint of Three Cups of Tea, from the perspective of the children who benefited from the first school that he helped build in Pakistan. I recommend both this book and Three Cups of Tea. By knowing the adult book, you'll be able to add helpful background and perspective to Listen to the Wind as your children read Listen to the Wind.

Do you like to read heroic tales of overcoming daunting odds to achieve great things? Do you believe that we are past the age of heroes? If you answered yes to either question, you need to read Listen to the Wind and Three Cups of Tea immediately!

Here's the overview of both books. Greg Mortenson was a determined mountain climber on his way back from challenging K2, one of the world's highest and most dangerous peaks in the Himalayas, when he lost his way. He was exhausted from just having helped in the all-but-impossible rescue of one of his fellow climbers.

As a result of the second of his mistakes in leaving the so-called trail, Mortenson found himself needing help in a Balti village in Pakistan that he had never heard of, Korphe. The villagers nursed him back to health, and Mortenson began listening to their grievances against the Pakistan government which supported an on-going conflict with India over Kashmir, but did not provide a school for their children. The grateful Mortenson promised to build them a school.

Many people make such promises, but few fulfill them. Mortenson headed back to California and raised the $12,000 he estimated it would take to build the school. With the money in hand, he flew back to Pakistan and started buying supplies. Arriving at the village, his new Balti friends reminded him that there was no bridge to transport the supplies to the village. Mortenson headed back to raise the money for the bridge.

After many more trials, the school was built and a teacher installed. Mortenson had found his life work. He wanted to provide schools for all of the Pakistani children who didn't get an education, especially the girls, who were more likely to stay in their villages and improve living conditions. Everything was difficult.

Pakistanis didn't trust him. Muslims thought it was all a plot to convert children to Christianity. Some wanted bribes. People in the United States were generally opposed to helping Muslims unless they had been climbers in that part of the Himalayas. Mortenson got hate mail. But he persevered.

Eventually, his vision expanded to helping with water projects and to providing scholarships for higher education for those who graduated from the schools he built.

Conditions in Afghanistan also called out to him, and he established a similar program there.

But his slim efforts were being overwhelmed by madrassas funded with Saudi money that were often used to recruit and train terrorists. His life changed forever when in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan Parade Magazine wrote an article about his efforts to secure a lasting peace in the region by supporting moderate Muslims with educational aid.

You will seldom read such an excellent story about serving humanity in a selfless secular way that isn't tied to a religious vocation.

The book's title, Listen to the Wind refers to a real event. After recovering in the village, Mr. Mortenson wanted to do something for the villagers. He asked Haji Ali, the wise man of the village what to do. Haji Ali advised Mortenson to listen to the wind. Closing his eyes, Mortenson heard the sounds of children studying outdoors. He realized he should build them a school.

The title Three Cups of Tea refers to a story that Mortenson learned from those who wanted him to slow down and stop acting like an American: The local people wanted to ally with him, and he was trying to run everything. Results improved when he stepped back and became an ally instead of an authoritarian leader.

Here's the basis of the reference: Haji Ali, his first Balti friend, told Mortenson that he had to respect Balti ways. "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger." "The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest." "The third time you share tea, you are family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die."

Listen to the Wind is actually two books in one. The first is an imaginatively illustrated story book about how Mortenson came to the village and returned to build the school. The second is a scrapbook of photographs of the real people and events. I found it quite brilliant to combine the two perspectives so that children can use their imaginations and also learn a historical story. Very nice!

May God bless the authors, their families, and those who work with Mr. Mortenson to expand the light of education to those who wish to see with it.

The story is now well-known (Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson) so all I will say about this is I am thrilled to see a picture-book edition. Now this important and timely story may be shared with even the youngest. Yet Listen to the Wind is a valuable read for middle readers and adults, as well. There are so many lessons in the illustrations alone. At the end of the book, the illustrator, Susan Roth, tells why she used the collage medium, seamlessly integrating her beautiful pictures into the theme of saving the world and using its resources wisely, just as the pure and natural people in the village of Korphe have done for thousands of years. Listen to the Wind, along with the other 2 editions of the book (Three Cups of Tea, adult and young readers) would be a fabulous choice for a school's "one read" project!

I bought this book for my grandsons so they could know the story of Three Cups of Tea which had so inspired me. I am so glad I did. The book opened up a wonderful and continuing discussion about children who live in other parts of the world and how their lives differ from ours. The story engaged them, and the beautiful artwork -- which has a lovely back story of its own -- intrigued them, more so with each reading. The book gently introduces children to another religion and culture, and tells a good story along the way.

I'm a avid supporter of Greg Mortenson's efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and have read with real interest his Three Cups of Tea, and the even more gripping Stones into Schools, so I was eager to read a "child's book" based on the efforts to build schools there and get education to all the children, particularly girls.

The pictures in Listen to the Wind are charming. Are they intelligible to a young child? No. The story is familiar. But is it told in language a child can understand? I think not. My eight year old grandchild was totally disinterested. I'll be donating the book to my local library.

I took several copies of this wonderful book to my grandsons' school and left them with each of the teachers. I read it to all the Kindergarten and First grade classes. The Second graders loved it too but the teachers wanted to read it themselves to their students. Next month I will read it to my church women's group. Adults and kids are fascinated by the pictures and, of course, the story is awesome! I would like to see everyone that buys this book to buy at least one extra one and give it away to a school or other place where kids can hear it and read it!

I read Three Cups of Tea, and afterwards wanted to give my grandchildren, who are 8 and 6, the experience of understanding the tribal areas vis-a-vis girls' education in Pakistan. After my eldest granddaughter read this book, she began saving all her pennies and has donated over $10.00 to the Central Asia Institute. Every child should read this book to have a better understanding of what is happening in Pakistan at this moment in history. Only by understanding each other and accepting our differences will we all be able to appreciate the things we have in common and live together in peace.