Hear the Wind Blow
About the Book
Hear the Wind Blow portrays the stages of the Beaufort wind scale with precision and also with poetic free verse, style, and imagination. Readers explore the rising and falling of a storm as the wind picks up from a kiss of air, to a gentle breeze that shivers the shifting grasses, to a roiling hurricane that makes tree roots shudder. And, when the winds calm, neighbors emerge to help clean their community. Backmatter offers a description of "air on the move," background on the wind force scale, a glossary, and resources.
About the Illustrator
Emily Paik has an BFA in Illustration from Columbus College of Art and Design and has worked in advertising, prop design, and animation. Among the last was a project for the Netflix series Carmen San Diego. She lives in South Korea with her sister and two dogs named Tofu and Doona. Learn more about Emily on her site and on Instagram.
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Praise for Hear The Wind Blow
“Hear the wind blow, and see the ocean react, as the story unfolds. Spanning several eventful days, the story begins with ‘a kiss of air— / a soft breath, a phantom wisp,’ escalates to a ‘hurricane [that] comes whirling,’ and culminates as neighbors work to clean up after ‘winds calm down.’ As the story progresses, the stanzas lengthen to describe the storm’s fury, a family sheltering at home, and a community rebuilding. When the story is complete, an author’s note explains the underlying structure of the poem. ‘Each stanza represents, in order, one of the thirteen categories of the Beaufort wind force scale.’ Additional backmatter explains the scale’s origin and provides a detailed chart listing the wind speeds, sea effects, and land effects for each category in the scale. An artful blend of language, illustration, and science.”
— Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
“Reassuring and informative, this engaging STEM offering serves as a solid introduction to that mysterious, invisible force called wind (and comes just in time for spring).”
— Booklist
“Lyrical text, expressive illustration, and the science of weather are beautifully blended…But there is more. Back matter moves this picture book above and beyond a charming children's book. Wind is defined as air in motion. Bonus material includes a copy of the Beaufort Wind Force Scale with an accompany introduction to the scale and its history, a glossary, and a list of suggested supplemental books. An excellent addition to school and library STEM collections for young readers.”
— Reading Style Guide
“With a stirring combination of poetry and science, Doe Boyle [uses] ... evocative vocabulary [to] allow kids to hear the scurrying leaves, groaning trees, and pounding waves as the wind begins as a breezy whisper and grows to whipping, wailing force. As the storm intensifies, Boyle’s stanzas lengthen and her rhythms become quicker and more urgent, immersing readers in learning about the Beaufort Scale while also finding reassurance in the comfort of family. Emily Paik’s vivid illustrations give readers visual clues to the onset of the hurricane, [although] the information about wind is applicable to any kind of windstorm. The book is an excellent choice for summer reading at home and would be a superb addition to lessons on weather for teachers and homeschoolers. Hear the Wind Blow ... is highly recommended for home, classroom, and public library collections.
— Celebrate Picture Books
“From a breeze to a hurricane and everything in between, this book breaks down the Beauford wind force scale using kids friendly and poetic language.”
— Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers of 2021
"With mounting intensity, each poetic stanza evokes shifts in weather and matches a category on the Beaufort Windforce Scale. Engaging illustrations. Glossary and supplementary resources."
— Bank Street College of Education's 2022 List of the Best Children's Books of the Year
Best Informational STEM Books
(In selecting books for this annual list, the Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College considers each book's literary quality and the excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers.)