Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Calling the Wind by Trudy Ludwig and Kathryn Otoshi - ADVISABLE

Calling the Wind: A Story of Healing and Hope
by Trudy Ludwig and Kathryn Otoshi.
PICTURE BOOK Knopf (Random House). 2022 $19.00 978-593426401 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A family's mother has passed away and they are grieving. When the young boy sees a flyer about a special phone, he finds the place and talks to his mother - it's a one-sided conversation, and she's not really there, but it makes him feel better and he starts to heal - bringing home her favorite color flower and telling others about the comforting phone. As other family members try the special phone, the feeling of peace happens to them too. 

Based on "The Wind Phone" a glass-paned phone booth in a garden in Japan. Originally built as a quiet and safe place for the artist to grieve, soon others found out and now many people have visited "The Wind Phone". This is one of those times that I wish the author's note had come first - the story felt odd, but now it makes more sense and is a lovely story about healing, and remembering. The characters are Japanese. 

Lisa Librarian

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