When the Wind Blows

by Stacy Clark M.A., Brad Sneed (Illustrator)

Overview

The wind shapes clouds and makes kites soar—but it can also light cities, power railroads, and make factories hum to life.

Introduce young readers to the enormous potential of wind energy, and learn how the same force that flies kites and makes ocean waves can power the human world in this celebration of renewable energy. 

Stacy Clark's rhyming, lyrical text explains in simple terms how turbines harness wind energy and turn it into electricity.  Sweeping landscape paintings by Brad Sneed illustrate the journey, from offshore wind farms to power lines stretching across the country, bringing electricity to homes, factories, and more. 

Inspire readers to imagine all the things the wind can do!

Perfect for eco-conscious readers and kids intrigued by how things work, this poetic nonfiction picture book has been vetted by an expert.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823430697
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	02/01/2015
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Stacy Clark is a preschool teacher, writer, and environmental geologist who lives in Dallas, Texas. When the Wind Blows is her first book.

Brad Sneed has illustrated more than twenty books for children, including Cock-a-doodle-doo, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo by Jim Aylesworth and Washday by Eve Bunting. He lives in Kansas with his wife and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

"Intriguing, easily informative and even inspiring."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"If you are looking for a book that inspires hope in your little ones and teaches them about a world free of fossil fuels, When the Wind Blows is it."—Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award Nominated Actor & Climate Activist
 
"a breezy introduction to wind energy."—Booklist
 
"When the Wind Blows is literally poetry in motion, flowing like a sea breeze powering the next generation with clean wind energy."—Mark Jacobson, Stanford University's Atmosphere and Energy Program Director and co-founder of The Solutions Project
 
"This clear and fun explanation begs for storytime reading and will spark discussion. An enlightening, fresh effort."—School Library Journal
 
"When the Wind Blows is a book for kids to read to their elders so we can get moving!"—Bill McKibben, best-selling author and founder of 350.org

From the Publisher

04/01/2015
K-Gr 3—What happens when the wind blows? This picture book demonstrates the significance of wind power. The story begins with a scene depicting summertime on the beach, where children run and play, "balloons escape," and "balls roll" and then transitions to the ocean, where a sailboat wends its way among powerful wind turbines. A maintenance worker climbs the tall ladder of a turbine, while the simple text explains that "magnetic forces use electrons as energy sources." The writing may be a bit challenging for some readers, but they'll learn that windmills power electricity throughout the United States, lighting up and heating homes, allowing trains and smart cars to run, and fueling lighthouses for safety at sea. Attractive watercolors depict the effects of wind power through accessible images that will resonate with readers, such as an image of the United States lit up, as seen from outer space. VERDICT This clear and fun explanation begs for storytime reading and will spark discussion. An enlightening, fresh effort.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

School Library Journal

2015-02-03
A poetic composition celebrates the power of the wind as a renewable-energy resource.The wind can make kites fly, beach balls roll away, balloons escape and even the shapes of clouds change. But when it blows offshore and makes turbine blades spin, energy is created that "powers a station / Charging the grid / That fuels our nation." The essential process of how wind turbines create electricity is succinctly explained in short, uneven rhyming stanzas, each beginning with the introductory line, "When the wind blows." Acrylic illustrations are done predominantly in shades of blue to reflect water and the daytime-nighttime sky. Double-page spreads present dramatic views of these lofty structures while also providing an interesting visual explanation of the mechanics involved. With the verse "When the wind blows / Blades rotate / Turning gears / Accelerate," a cutaway view reveals the gears inside the top of a turbine. Similarly, in the verse "When the wind blows / Copper whirls 'round / Between two magnets / High aboveground," another internal view shows the parts mentioned. Blustery, natural beach scenes yield to spreads that focus on the turbines, naturally leading to images of the electric grid that powers modern life, from lighthouses to light-rail tracks to electric cars. Intriguing, easily informative and even inspiring. (Informational picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

Read More