Wind Whirls

In Wind Whirls, two young children, guided by an adult, take an early winter walk through a city neighborhood, bracing against the wind as they make their way to their grandparents' home. The sounds of the wind surround them--whoosh, rustle, bang, flap-flap-flap. The wind brings sensation too. Cousins Kamali and Josiah feel their scarves dancing around their necks and the force of the wind pushing them along. They learn that, together, they can stand stronger and find their way through any weather.

• Engages young children in reflecting on the natural world and togetherness
• Includes discussion ideas and activities to help children learn more about nature and their own senses
• Shows children that they can connect with nature and its lessons, no matter where they live
• Highlights children in diverse urban environments

This book is part of the Outside Our Window Board Books series, which encourages children--especially those in urban environments--to explore, protect, and delight in nature. Each book in the series focuses on one feature of the natural world (like wind), one sense (hearing), and one communication or relationship skill (togetherness). The books emphasize community and encourage children and families to explore the natural world around them.

Working at the intersection of nature, literature, and culture, Mélina Mangal's writing highlights youth whose voices are rarely heard, and the people and places that inspire them to explore their world. Her books from Free Spirit include Jayden's Impossible Garden, Jayden's Secret Ingredient, and the Outside Our Window Board Books series. She is also the author of short stories and biographies for youth, including The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just. She won the Carter G. Woodson Book Award and was named an NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Mélina also works as a school library teacher in Minnesota and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, whether it's in her backyard or hiking in the woods.

Stella Lim is a Korean illustrator based in Seoul. She studied fine art at the Seoul Women's University and illustration at Kingston University in London. She draws inspiration from her childhood in rural South Korea, and likes to bring something new to each project she works on.