Wind, Ocean, Grass - Karen A. Wyle - ★★★★.½

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AUTHOR: Karen A. Wyle
ILLUSTRATOR: Tomasz Mikutel
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
RATING: 4.5 stars.

An unusual picture book that soothes your eyes, your ears and your heart. Unusual because this is unlike any picture book I have read. Most typical early reader books have human or animal characters. This one relies entirely on the non-living yet essential components of nature.

The central character is the wind, who is speaking to the grass about the qualities of the ocean, and how the vast ocean is similar and also dissimilar to the grass. Through the wind’s words, the grass tries to picture the ocean and its many moods. When the grass questions the wind about whom it likes better, the wind’s answer is diplomatic and truthful. I loved how beautifully the wind reaffirms its need of both and diminishes the value of neither.

Seeing nature through the eyes of the wind was a remarkable experience. The words used are simple enough for early readers and yet so vivid that they create a wonderful image of the scene before your eyes. The entire writing is very poetic in essence. There are various figures of speech (such as alliteration, simile, metaphor and personification) put to apt use. While younger readers won’t understand the nuances of these literary devices, slightly older readers will be able to appreciate them better.

I also appreciate the decision not to force the content into rhythmic prose but to allow the words to follow their own cadence. Poorly written rhymes can spoil a read-aloud, and this book proves that rhymes aren’t needed to make a reading session fun.

The icing on the cake are the illustrations, each of which is an artwork by itself. Drawn in the format of impressionist paintings, each page is filled with a stunning landscape of either the grass and its denizens or the ocean and its inhabitants. The physical copy of this book would be so gorgeous to look at!

All in all, this is a relaxing book, filled with calm thoughts and stunning images. Definitely recommended for bedtime reading, and even to schools as teachers can use the language, the artwork and the metaphorical message as a means of healthy discussion. It would be a worthwhile read for ages 3-8, depending on how it is used.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author at my request and these are my honest thoughts about it.

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