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CM . . .
. Volume X Number 16 . . . . April 8, 2004
Windy and Sunny, which target both pre-readers and early readers, feature cloth dolls who are dressed in a variety of cheerful fabrics while exploring an activity or having an adventure. Bold, bright covers and child-like, simple sketches on the endpapers invite readers into each book.
Mitchell's and Steedman's collaboration has produced a whimsical and appealing pair of books that are perfect for sharing and which inspire fun and creativity. What an great opportunity to have young children replicate or design their own fabric dolls! Hopefully, other titles in this series might include instructions for this activity. Highly Recommended.Reesa Cohen is an Instructor of Children's Literature and Information Literacy at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca. Copyright � the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
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The first title, Windy, introduces Windy with hair of yellow yarn and sporting a brilliant red
scarf. The only facial details are small black dots for eyes, echoing a very simple narrative. It's a
perfect day for kite flying, but Windy's kite disappears, out of reach. The remainder of the story
follows Windy in pursuit of her blue kite, searching the meadow, the orchard, the pond and the
town. She shares her adventures with Al, the owl, and discovers her blue kite in his tree. What
steals the show in this small compact book are the full page 3 dimensional photos which use
combinations of paper cut-outs and collage for the background, and origami and fabric animals on
bright glossy paper, all done in primary colors. Because the photos are "close-ups" which often
blur the scene behind, there is a feeling of intimacy. A playful map that traces Windy's
adventure is cleverly included as part of the narrative and allows for reader interaction and recall.
The inside jacket cover includes instructions for kite making with an adult's assistance.
In Sunny, the second title, the main character, Sunny, delightfully investigates the familiar
sounds of the city with a cast of doll friends. As they explore the funny noises, Sunny has a
wonderful idea for a "hootenanny" where they could act out the sounds. The engaging photos
of these colourful fabric dolls incorporate rulers, spools of thread, clothespins, pencils and a
handkerchief, as well as paper cutouts and black sketches. Included is a map of the noises
discovered. The emphasis here is on sounds, and Sunny comes with a CD of 10 songs that
encourage participation. Instructions for a "shoe-box" guitar are found on the inside of the book
jacket.