Wind Whirls

Mรฉlina Mangal

Book cover for Wind Whirls
Image for variant 9798885544573
Book cover for Wind Whirls
Image for variant 9798885544573

Wind Whirls

Wind Whirls

Mรฉlina Mangal

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Description

Introduce children to the sounds and sensations of the wind, and to the importance of togetherness

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.

Wind Whirls:
  • 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.

About the Author

Working at the intersection of nature, literature, and culture, Mรฉlina 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. Mรฉlina 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.

Critical Reviews

"Truly noteworthy series . . . [that] deliberately and effectively emphasizes community and encourages children and their families to explore the natural world around them."-- "Children's Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review"

"I absolutely love the concept of connecting with nature while living in the city. Curiosity and joy emanate from the Outside Our Window series."--Lydia Lukidis, author of Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench, Crystal Kite winner and Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor

"Lovely language and scenes of a windy day create an homage to the power of wind . . . a simple, winsome stroll will inspire lapsitters and emerging readers alike to get outdoors and look around."-- "School Library Journal"

"A useful tool for parents to illustrate nature's beauty, perfectly suited for home-based education opportunities."-- "School Library Journal on the Outside Our Window Board Book series"

Publishing Information

Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Pub date: 2025-11-04
Length: 24 pages

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