Painting the Wind (Hardcover)

~ Patricia & Emily Maclachlan (Author), Katy Schneider (Illustrator) "I paint all winter long..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-A budding artist waits for the return of the summer painters to his island, and one by one they arrive, each with the tools of their trade and a dog. The young narrator spends time with each one-the flower painter, the painter of portraits, still-life painter, and the landscape painter-observing, learning, and finally challenging himself to paint the wind. The prose flows with the relaxed rhythms of summer. Evocative descriptions bring life and individuality to each artist. One "loves the names of his paints" like Terracotta and Scarlet Lake, another loves faces, a third artist loves "sea glass" and "jingle shells," and the last loves the moon. All of them observe the world around them with awe. Schneider's masterful paintings are light-splashed gems, and her dog portraits are particularly appealing. From cover to cover, this is a celebration of art and an amazing marriage of text and illustration.
Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. It's summer, and the artists have returned to the island. The young narrator, a painter himself, has been waiting for their arrival. In this quietly told book, the boy recounts how each of four painters--an artist who paints flowers, a portraitist, a still-life painter, and a landscape artist--paint the same island. By observing each artist closely, the boy hopes to discover how to paint the wind. At the end of summer, the artworks, including the boy's picture of trees bending to the wind, are displayed. Perspective plays an underlying role throughout, both in Schneider's seaside backdrops and in her individual artists' points of view and works. Adding a droll touch is each artist's sidekick dog, with a personality as distinctive as its owner's art. The gentle prose pairs well with handsome artwork that evokes warm, strong sensory impressions through a combination of thick brushwork, texture, and a vibrant color palette. This first collaboration between Patricia MacLachlan and her daughter, Emily, gets to the heart of creativity in a way children will understand. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060297980
• ISBN-13: 978-0060297985
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #690,899 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a beautiful book..., September 2, 2003

By	Gloria Jones (Eden Prairie, MN United States) - See all my reviews

A young boy that lives on an island loves to paint, but he is frustrated because he has never been able to paint the wind. In the summer, many artists come to the island to paint. The young boy paints with the artists and learns a great deal. At the end of one summer, he realizes that he has captured the wind on canvas.

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting tale with wonderful illustrations, October 16, 2009

By	B. Dawson (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Painting the Wind (Joanna Cotler Books) (Paperback)

Painting the wind is more of a picture book than a full-scale story. The pictures are depicted as paintings, and follow after the styles of the various artists encountered by the narrator - a young boy who himself loves to paint.

I would have liked to have seen a few more pictures showing the young boy's artistic attempts, and I had a few questions about how the boy became so well acquainted with these particular artists that they allowed him to work side-by-side with them -- especially the landscape artist who doesn't take his own children with him when he paints.

A lovely touch is the way the narrator describes the artists' relationship with their dogs. The dogs are sometimes featured in the paintings, and in one instance help a woman being painted to relax and smile.

At the end, the young artist has accomplished his own personal goal - of painting the wind, and he has also participated in the island art show.

Recommended for children who like stories about art.

5.0 out of 5 stars Artist's Delight, May 15, 2009

By	Jay Bee (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting the Wind (Joanna Cotler Books) (Paperback)

Sweet story about a boy who learns his art by watching different artists. He learns how to paint the wind by showing movement in his art. Good read aloud for elementary grades.