Where the Four Winds Blow [Library Binding]

Dan Yaccarino (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Roger was so mad, he hopped out of his bed and threw open the window. "I wish you'd carry Mom and Dad away, too!" he shouted into the wind.

What Roger didn't know was the four dastardly Wind brothers were just waiting to kidnap his parents. Now it's time for him and his sister, Sally, to quit bickering and embark on a rescue mission.

Their unbelievable adventure takes them through a world so fantastically strange that Roger must unlearn everything he's read in books. And if he and Sally don't figure out how to get along, they'll never get Mom and Dad back ... especially if that purple goo keeps following them.

Award-winning artist and author Dan Yaccarino's first illustrated novel for children is a fun-filled, contemporary fable about the strength of family no matter how great the odds.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-An odd, flat fantasy, populated with unlikable characters. Everything was fine in Roger's family-and then his father got a promotion. Now they live in a big house, his teenaged sister only wants to spend money at the mall, Mom is always on the phone with friends, and Dad is always talking business. These people are more than dysfunctional-they are unpleasant. Roger is fascinated with science, except that he is afraid of thunderstorms. When a storm arrives, he yells to the wind to take his parents away. Of course they vanish. Roger and his hateful sister go in search of them, find them being pushed around by the Four Winds, overpower the Winds, and return home to live happily ever after. Roger and Sally have many adventures with weather-related characters (a cloud child, Sir Snow, Lord Fog, etc.) but, again, none of them come to life. The boldly colored illustrations are realistic, yet stylized. If Sally had short hair and didn't wear a skirt, she would look exactly like Roger, and none of the weather characters' faces reflect the emotions described in the text.
Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Upset because his parents are too busy to pay attention to him, Roger wishes they would just disappear. And they do! Of course, Roger didn't know that the dastardly Wind brothers were waiting for an opportunity to kidnap them. Now, it's up to Roger and his sister, Sally, to rescue Mom and Dad, but if the kids don't stop bickering and learn how to get along, they'll never get their parents back. Roger and Sally settle their differences and enter a world that defies the reality they know. Never fear, all ends well. Roger's parents are rescued; they see the error of their ways and shower their son with their attention; and the experience of working together brings Roger and Sally closer together. Yaccarino's lighthearted first novel is a fun-filled story that shows how sticking together helps a family overcome adversity. The book is illustrated throughout with Yaccarino's familiar whimsical, cartoonlike illustrations, all in color. This will attract kids familiar with Yaccarino's picture books as well as readers looking for an entertaining adventure. Ed Sullivan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Library Binding: 104 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0066236274
• ISBN-13: 978-0066236278
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,893,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan has written and illustrated over three dozen children's books and has had the pleasure of working with some of the most prestigious names in children's literature, including Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes and Naomi Shabib Nye. Dan has also had the honor of being invited to the White House to share his books and to participate in the annual Easter festivities.

Dan's also created and produced Nickelodeon's animated series, Oswald, as well as the upcoming Willa's Wild Life.

Currently, Dan is writing and illustrating more books and is developing more television as well as feature film projects.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting attempt, May 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Where the Four Winds Blow (Library Binding)

While I am not going to say that I thought this was the greatest novel for children I have ever read-- I will say that my second daughter (age 8) and I had a very fun time reading it together. Yaccarino has been a favorite artist of hers (and mine) since she began reading picture books so I was very pleased to see him creating books for the young fans of his who are growing up.

The story is fairly simple. Roger and his Sister have to track down their kidnapped parents, and they rush all over the world-- but it is a fantastic, Yaccarino-world, where all sorts of facts about science are turned on their head. The ending is a bit heavy handed, but there is a nice lesson to be learned.

Yaccarino's artwork in the book was a particular treat. A bit more stylized that we are used to seeing from him, but it works very well in the book. And my daughter certainly appreciated that just because we were reading a novel did not mean we had to stop seeing pictures on each page!

The real question: Can Yaccarino write? The writing, to be honest, was a bit uneven but I think I was noticing that much more than my 8 year old daughter. The characters were wild and vivid and fun and that was what she was after!

A very fun read aloud that can last a few nights.