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illus. by Joe Cepeda. 24p. (I Like To Read). Holiday House. Jul. 2016. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9780823436552; pap. $6.99. ISBN 9780823436897; ebk. $14.95. ISBN 9780823437467.
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PreS-Gr 3—A fantasy about a little boy and a windy night. The tale opens with two brothers in bed. A mysterious pinwheel blows into the younger brother's hand. Soon, he is flying over the treetops, encountering a hen, a sheep, a pig, and a cow along the way. They all arrive back at their respective homes, and the little boy hands the pinwheel to his big brother. The narrative has made a full circle, and now it's readers' turns to predict what will happen next. Part of a beginning reader series, the title is predicated on ease of reading for beginners, and it meets that standard. Cepeda relies on only 12 different words, all decodable and repeated at least once, and his use of typical farm animals allows for activation of prior knowledge in most young readers. The vibrant, sketchy illustrations make the wind feel almost palpable, and add to the fun. There's not much story here, but for children just starting out, there is enough for them to feel like empowered readers.
VERDICT A great choice for larger collections.

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