When The Wind Blew
written and illustrated by Petra Brown
While Big Bear and Little Bear are snuggled up for the night, a wild storm rages. The bears wake up to find that the wind has knocked down all of the trees in their forest, they'll have to move. Little Bear is distraught. He loves their home! But Big Bear helps him understand that home isn't where you are, but who you're with.
Author and illustrator Petra Brown's sweet, superbly rendered characters and tender story are perfect for helping little ones deal with a move or change.
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"Petra Brown does a lovely job of tackling a very scary subject for kids and making it much less scary with her friendly illustrations and cute interactions between Big Bear and Little Bear. I really appreciate how this has made it easy to reassure my kids that as long as we're safe and together we are home."
The Simple Moms
Details
Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Lexile Measure: AD600L (What's this?)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (August 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1585369691
ISBN-13: 978-1585369690
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Lexile Measure: AD600L (What's this?)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (August 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1585369691
ISBN-13: 978-1585369690
Kirkus Review
KIRKUS REVIEW
WHEN THE WIND BLEW
by Petra Brown ; illustrated by Petra Brown
Age Range: 3 - 6
A young bear cub learns what truly makes a home.
Big Bear and Little Bear wake up one morning to find that a storm has knocked down all of the trees outside their den. Little Bear peers cautiously around. All he can see are broken limbs and ragged stumps. He doesn’t understand. What has the wind done? Big Bear’s optimism shines through: “Well, we won’t have to climb for honey or fruit today!” As they plod through the forest, they see evidence of destruction all around. Because of the fallen trees, the birds will have to find new homes. Big Bear says that they will have to move, too. But Little Bear doesn’t want to leave his home. Luckily, the cliffs have protected the trees in the valley. Big Bear and Little Bear slowly make their way to the forest floor, where they find a new, cozy den. Big Bear (never gendered) is sweet and loving, patiently answering Little Bear’s questions and calming his fears throughout the journey. This ursine story, refreshingly, has nothing to do with hibernation yet is still true to a bear’s experience—and has not a few parallels to the experiences of humans affected by natural disaster.
Gently shows how forest devastation (even when due to natural causes) affects many creatures large and small. (Picture book. 3-6)
WHEN THE WIND BLEW
by Petra Brown ; illustrated by Petra Brown
Age Range: 3 - 6
A young bear cub learns what truly makes a home.
Big Bear and Little Bear wake up one morning to find that a storm has knocked down all of the trees outside their den. Little Bear peers cautiously around. All he can see are broken limbs and ragged stumps. He doesn’t understand. What has the wind done? Big Bear’s optimism shines through: “Well, we won’t have to climb for honey or fruit today!” As they plod through the forest, they see evidence of destruction all around. Because of the fallen trees, the birds will have to find new homes. Big Bear says that they will have to move, too. But Little Bear doesn’t want to leave his home. Luckily, the cliffs have protected the trees in the valley. Big Bear and Little Bear slowly make their way to the forest floor, where they find a new, cozy den. Big Bear (never gendered) is sweet and loving, patiently answering Little Bear’s questions and calming his fears throughout the journey. This ursine story, refreshingly, has nothing to do with hibernation yet is still true to a bear’s experience—and has not a few parallels to the experiences of humans affected by natural disaster.
Gently shows how forest devastation (even when due to natural causes) affects many creatures large and small. (Picture book. 3-6)
Review From School Library Journal
In this sweet, reassuring story, Little Bear and Big Bear must move in the aftermath of a very bad storm. The wind has knocked down all of the trees and made their current home unlivable, so the bears seek a new den. Little Bear notices his surroundings and the beauty of nature, asking questions along the way, as most little ones do. Big Bear soothes and protects the cub until they reach their destination. As they settle down in their new den after a long, adventurous day, Little Bear revels in the comfort and warmth that Big Bear provides. He tells Big Bear, "When I'm with you, wherever we are, I feel I'm at home. VERDICT With its lovely and meaningful illustrations, this book makes a perfect lap read to be cherished by caregivers and their children. A general purchase for any primary collection.
Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh
Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh
Review From 'The Simple Moms'
To help with some of the questions my children have been having about what happens after an event like a big storm we have been reading When the Wind Blew by Petra Brown. This book is for ages 4-8 but even older kids (like my almost 10 year old) can benefit from the conversations that this book can easily start for you.
Petra Brown does a lovely job of tackling a very scary subject for kids and making it much less scary with her friendly illustrations and cute interactions between Big Bear and Little Bear. I really appreciate how this has made it easy to reassure my kids that as long as we're safe and together we are home.
The Simple Moms>
Petra Brown does a lovely job of tackling a very scary subject for kids and making it much less scary with her friendly illustrations and cute interactions between Big Bear and Little Bear. I really appreciate how this has made it easy to reassure my kids that as long as we're safe and together we are home.
The Simple Moms>
Review From Picture Book Depot
When the Wind Blew is a visually and conceptually beautiful book that is so much more than just a book about forest animals. It is also about life and the lightning-fast and ofttimes irreversible changes that happen as we live it — and in many cases, often while little ones are asleep. It is about adults and guardians providing stability and security and words of wisdom and comfort when scary things happen. It’s about children gaining strength from that wisdom and realizing that life does indeed go on.
Ms. Brown’s prose is sweet, innocent and so realistic that young readers will easily identify with Little Bear’s hopes and fears. Her illustrations capture the warm and fuzzy look that we associate with bears, including expressions of love, confusion and hope on the bears’ faces. She uses soft pastels and warm earth tones to offer picture book lovers everything from the peaceful darkness of the bears’ slumber chamber to the shocking view of once-proud trees snapped off at their base to a pristine lake flanked by soft blue mountains.
Use this book in early elementary classrooms as a jumping off point for discussions about change, fear, and moving forward in life. This book also makes a nice lap book before, during or just after stormy evenings at home.
Picture Book Depot>
Ms. Brown’s prose is sweet, innocent and so realistic that young readers will easily identify with Little Bear’s hopes and fears. Her illustrations capture the warm and fuzzy look that we associate with bears, including expressions of love, confusion and hope on the bears’ faces. She uses soft pastels and warm earth tones to offer picture book lovers everything from the peaceful darkness of the bears’ slumber chamber to the shocking view of once-proud trees snapped off at their base to a pristine lake flanked by soft blue mountains.
Use this book in early elementary classrooms as a jumping off point for discussions about change, fear, and moving forward in life. This book also makes a nice lap book before, during or just after stormy evenings at home.
Picture Book Depot>
Amazon Reviews
Christine Winscott
I love love love this book! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story is great too!
Sandra K. McGuffie
Truly a beautiful book.
Anitra R Schulte
Sweet tale. A child who is moving to a new place would certainly relate to Little Bear in this book. When the Wind Blew delivers a feeling of safety through lyrical words and gentle illustrations. Great bedtime book, as well.
Amazon reviews>
I love love love this book! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story is great too!
Sandra K. McGuffie
Truly a beautiful book.
Anitra R Schulte
Sweet tale. A child who is moving to a new place would certainly relate to Little Bear in this book. When the Wind Blew delivers a feeling of safety through lyrical words and gentle illustrations. Great bedtime book, as well.
Amazon reviews>
Goodreads reviews
Abigail
A charming picture-book from British author/illustrator Petra Brown, When the Wind Blew addresses the common childhood experience of moving house, offering young listeners reassurance, not just that such a move can work out for the best, but that they will always have the love and protection of their parent(s). The artwork is every bit as appealing as the story, capturing the ursine duo in their many heartwarming moments together. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about handling change, particularly a change of house.
Barbara
Filled with lovely scenes from nature, this picture book might provide comfort to anyone having to move to a new place as the bears must do since the foods they need to survive won't be available, and it also might remind readers who have experienced some sort of life change or natural disaster that resilience is the key to thriving after unwanted change. The text is reassuring and rhythmic.
Anna
This book is precious! For some reason I thought I wouldn't like it, but it's cute, heartbreaking, and also heartwarming. The illustrations are phenomenal and the story is amazing. I recommend this book to all!
Ms Gaye
A sweet story about a mother bear and her cub exploring the landscape after a windstorm blew down the trees. A good choice for preschool storytime since children can mimic some of Little Bear's actions. Ages 3-6.
Carrie
Gorgeous illustrations showing how different things in nature are designed to survive (like how flowers bend instead of break so they can bounce back when the wind stops), as well as how you can lose your house without losing your home.
Josie Hopkins
This book is good in teaching children that Home is not always where you live but who you live with and living with the ones you love. Could be used to introduce in a classroom and how at school we are our home in loving each other
Goodreads Reviews>
A charming picture-book from British author/illustrator Petra Brown, When the Wind Blew addresses the common childhood experience of moving house, offering young listeners reassurance, not just that such a move can work out for the best, but that they will always have the love and protection of their parent(s). The artwork is every bit as appealing as the story, capturing the ursine duo in their many heartwarming moments together. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about handling change, particularly a change of house.
Barbara
Filled with lovely scenes from nature, this picture book might provide comfort to anyone having to move to a new place as the bears must do since the foods they need to survive won't be available, and it also might remind readers who have experienced some sort of life change or natural disaster that resilience is the key to thriving after unwanted change. The text is reassuring and rhythmic.
Anna
This book is precious! For some reason I thought I wouldn't like it, but it's cute, heartbreaking, and also heartwarming. The illustrations are phenomenal and the story is amazing. I recommend this book to all!
Ms Gaye
A sweet story about a mother bear and her cub exploring the landscape after a windstorm blew down the trees. A good choice for preschool storytime since children can mimic some of Little Bear's actions. Ages 3-6.
Carrie
Gorgeous illustrations showing how different things in nature are designed to survive (like how flowers bend instead of break so they can bounce back when the wind stops), as well as how you can lose your house without losing your home.
Josie Hopkins
This book is good in teaching children that Home is not always where you live but who you live with and living with the ones you love. Could be used to introduce in a classroom and how at school we are our home in loving each other
Goodreads Reviews>
Review From 'The Feathered Quill'
When the Wind Blew is a sweet book that cleverly uses the story of a little bear to teach young readers about what happens when a family moves to a new home. Little Bear is understandably upset, as many youngsters are, at the thought of having to move. All ends well for Little Bear, happy in his new home, and this reassurance will definitely be a source of comfort for children. The author is also the illustrator and her love of drawing animals shines through on each and every picture. As Big Bear tells his young companion, "Don't worry...things will be fine..."
Quill says: Planning a move? Have little ones? Then you need to get them a copy of this book to help show them that all will be well.
The Feathered Quill
Quill says: Planning a move? Have little ones? Then you need to get them a copy of this book to help show them that all will be well.
The Feathered Quill