CONTENT:
Kate, Who Tamed the Wind (2018) was written by Liz Garton Scanlon and it was illustrated by Lee White. This picturebook tells the story of a man who lives in a creaky house on the top of a hill. There blows a very strong wind that does not allow him to live peacefully due to the noise made by the draughts and gusts of wind that sweep away everything. One day, a girl named Kate decides to help him: she understands that it is necessary to plant new trees, in order to protect the house. Together with the man she grows many new plants on the hill and takes care of them for years, until they grow enough to shelter the house from the wind.
WHY USING THIS PICTUREBOOK:
Thanks to this picturebook it is possible to reflect with children on the importance of trees as a key element in the ecosystem. The story promotes a reflection on the role of human beings in the ecosystem and it encourages young readers/listeners to take positive action. In the written text there are repetitions, onomatopoeias (e.g., “the creaky house on the tip-top of a steep hill”, (Garton Scanlon e White, 2018: 2) and alliterations that create predictable patters and attract the readers/listeners attention to the musicality of the language and facilitate comprehension. The illustrations were painted using watercolor, this contributes to conveying the idea of lightness and liveliness. Text and illustrations mirror each other, facilitating for the readers/listeners the comprehension of the events presented in the story.
