Whimsical look at what happens to newspaper pages when they are blown into the wind. I loved the colorful illustrations.

The publisher's own readership age notation is Juvenile Fiction (ages 4-8), and I agree because the concepts in the story, in my opinion, would not be understood by preschoolers; in fact I am thinking this storyline might even leave most Middle Grade age readers (ages 7-12) scratching their heads, and that's a problem.

The colorful folk art illustrations are delightful, and are the saving grace of this book.

A Page in the Wind narrates the story about a newspaper, told by the newspaper itself. Love, joy, pain, desperation... Every page flying in the wind bumps into different people, feels different emotions and has a different life. I loved it because is a heartbreaking story about the importance of finding our place in the world, our personal purpose in life. Even when we can't see it and are discouraged, there is always something worth living for!

Newspapers are born every day. In this unique book, the birth and life of a newspaper are told from the perspective of a newspaper. Only by looking at the incredible mixed-media illustrations is the story complete. Each newspaper finds a home, where their purpose as a newspaper is fulfilled. Expect for the narrating paper. The wind picks up and carries its pages throughout the city. As it does so, its various pages are used in many different ways. Until it finally brings joy to someone who reads its pages.

This is a great book to explore vocation with children. Read more at https://thesbproject.wordpress.com/2018/10/18/a-page-in-the-wind/.

Story text is by José Sanabria and María Laura Díaz Domínguez. Illustrations by José Sanabria (color stains are added by Delvy Betancourt). Translation is done by Audrey Hall.

This picture (children's?) book is a masterpiece. Extremely deep, meaningful, layered with great visuals (artwork). Loved it.

Spoiler Alert: This is NOT the story of a newspaper.

Spoiler Alert: Having said that, my guess on the last one: he won a lottery? Found a lost being? Had a great day in stocks?

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

A sweet story with a satisfactorily open-ended finish. The book has beautiful artwork: Nearly every page could be on the wall of a museum. Simple yet thought-provoking.

A newspapers adventure in its own words. Good artwork.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

South American artist Jose Sanabria’s unusual picture book traces the journey of a newspaper, El Barco (“The Ship”), from where it “came into the world,” early one morning, inside a cold building on the edge of a large city. Sanabria has the newspaper speak directly (in the first person) to readers, telling them that it was—hot off the press—stacked warmly together with its fellow “newborns” before travelling by truck in search of a new home. Over the course of the day, the newspaper’s fellows are lifted from their shelf at a newsagent’s shop and purchased by a variety of customers. Only then, as their pages are opened and read, do their “life stories” begin.

As the last on the shelf, the newspaper at the centre of the story is to have a different fate. The day turns windy, and the paper’s pages are blown in different directions across a noisy street, each having a different fate. One will reach an old lady, who will use it to clean a mirror. The others will line the bottom of a bird cage, be turned into a paper boat, serve as paint drop sheet, shelter a pair of lovers from the rain, or provide warmth to a homeless person. Just when the paper is down to a mere page and becoming discouraged, it is—oh joy!—able to fulfill its purpose: be read and bring someone knowledge or pleasure. The newspaper doesn’t know what it has communicated to the man who reads the page, but it is aware that his discouragement, too, has been transformed into happiness. Perhaps the man had been unemployed and saw something promising in the want ads, or maybe he learned that a disaster was averted in his country or somewhere else in the world.

In the initial pages of the book, Sanabria’s paintings are slightly rough and drab looking. The oils seem thinly applied, even chalk-like, and the texture of the canvas shows through.The buildings and human figures look as though they’ve been created by a child. There are cubist elements in some of the art, and the illustration that goes with the newspaper’s realization, as the wind begins to blow, that its fate will be different from its fellows has a magical, Chagall-like quality. When the man reads the good news on the page that has been carried to him, he flies joyfully above the city. Again like a figure out of a Chagall painting, he is “like a page in the wind” himself.

This is an enchanting picture book. I just loved it, and I think kids will, too.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book for review purposes.

Does the printed page have a life its own, feelings, a voice? As you browse through the pages of this book to look into the life of a newspaper, you will come to believe it does, and endearingly so! In today's world where the printed newspaper is likely becoming part of a past, this book makes it a forever thing. Through its magical pages filled with detailed illustrations that are simply exquisite, the book lends a human voice to the newspaper - sometimes humorous, at others desolate, and a gamut of other emotions, just like life.

It made me smile, made me feel nostalgic, made me feel sad, and made me feel 'me'.  The limited text says a lot in conjunction with the detailed frame-worthy illustrations. The reader can simply enjoy the newspaper's journey while reading out aloud with an younger audience and explore the illustrations in depth - play 'I Spy' games on each page. Or with older kids, and even adults, the book can become so much more - an exercise in exploring life, in perspectives, in 'what are we here for' questions, discovering how many ways can we help others, and more.

My 15 yo says:In his words,  'Reading A Page in the Wind made me realize that oftentimes, we can find our true purpose in the random-est of moments' (not sure if my review was needed after this profound statement from my teen!)

My 12 yo says: In her words, 'Cute story with detailed illustrations that each person reading the book can interpret in so many ways'

A Page in the Wind is definitely a gift-able book.

Possible activities:
For the youngest kids: explore how many different ways a newspaper can be used (starting with the ones mentioned in the book) and 'I Spy' games with the pages
For older ones: explore the actual journey of a newspaper - from the reporting to the presses to the readers; explore all those heavy 'life' parallel questions!
Rating: A
Reading Level: Ages 4 to 8 (and older kids, adults too - we are an older audience for this book!)
Reread Level: 5/5 — definitely worth going back again to enjoy the illustrations and discover new details each time.

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for the ARC. The review of the book is based on our honest opinions.

First I would like to say the illustrations in this book are good. The author is from Argentina and it is how I would think Argentina is like, the buildings and streets. The story from the newspaper perspective was good as the many uses and some little humor (used to wash windows). I really don't think a young child would understand this and would be disappointed with the ending. Though the writing is geared to a younger child the story line is more for an older child. I think if it had a better ending I would have liked it more. Though I do find the life of a piece of newspaper pretty imaginative.

I read this book with my young son. We both enjoyed the story and the beautiful illustrations, in particular. It's an interesting premise and the ending would lead to fun writing prompts for students.

This story was told from the point of view of the newspaper. A newspaper is 'born' in a big warehouse, carried off with the other 'newborns', keeping each other warm in a stack on the newsstand. He waited and watched while all his siblings got adopted and carried off, but this newspaper had a different life ahead. Blowing away, parts of him ended up in various homes, with various people,being used in different ways. The point of view was very unique, talking about all the ways a newspaper impacts the life of people. The illustrations were interesting and different. I liked it. I think adults will enjoy reading this to kids and it will open discussion about many topics. There is also a message about being patient as your life’s purpose is revealed, and it may not be anything like what you expected. The illustrations by Columbian artist José Sanabria are beautiful enough to frame and hang on a wall. The gorgeous images move the reader along through the story. The discussions that can occur just from the detailed illustrations are endless. This book can be used to learn about the newspaper, for an art lesson, as a writing prompt and more. A great addition to a school or class library. The publisher, North South Books Inc., generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.

Jose’ Sanabria & Maria Laura Diaz Dominguez have created a beautiful work of art with their picturebook, A Page in the Wind. The cover is stunning and presents like a painting that belongs shared on gallery wall space. Each following illustration is set on a white background that frames the art. Told from the point of view of a page, I love this idea of a narrative being born, yet existing without meaning- because the page became unraveled from the others, and stayed unread, “One by one…everyone’s life story began. Everyone but me.” It is a tribute to reader response. I felt empathy for the page while witnessing his tougher times and tangles, and relief when happier moments, “For the first time someone read what I had to say” presented themselves. When a reader or listener connects to text and/or illustrations, true value and worth unlaces and presents itself in true purpose.

I've got to tell you, the title of this book pulled me in and the fact it might be about a newspaper, because I have a weird romanticized idea of newspapers, of all things. The cover is NOT my preferred illustration style and I thought this might have been a mistake to review.

A newspaper narrates the story of his life, beginning with conception in a warehouse. He tells of other newspapers being taken from a stand, but his life is much different. Different parts of him float away and live their own lives.

From a hardworking old woman, to a boy who plays captain, down to the very last page, each of his pages experiences something different. Some are happy, some are mundane, some are sad, just like life.

This last page freaking got me though. Out of nowhere, along this journey of a newspaper, one of the most menial everyday objects you can find, he drops this deep, philosophical truth bomb about the moments that make life worth living.

Who knew a picture book could be so sobering for an adult? This whole book mimics, what I feel, is the journey through life in general and I know I thought I might regret reviewing this book, but it was one of my greatest surprises of being a Netgalley reviewer.

The illustrative style is NOT what I normally gravitate towards, obviously if you look at my past reviews, but it's stunning. It's vibrant in it's own right and so incredibly detailed, I LOVED it in this book. It fit so perfectly.

I adored A Page in the Wind. I love the idea that a newspaper lives a full life, even down to its last page, and that we experience this life through the eyes of said newspaper. The abstract artwork adds to the story without being overbearing. It's like you're fluttering down the street with the pages.

This would be the perfect book to add to the collection of any children in your life. It's such an open-ended story that it could be used to inspire creativity once finished with the children in your life (art or writing projects, a field trip to your local newspaper printer). The possibilities are endless. I could also see the premise behind A Page in the Wind becoming a short film of sorts.

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was told from the point of view of the newspaper. How he came to life, how he traveled. I thought the point of view was very unique, talking about all the ways, other than being read, a newspaper impacts the life of people. The illustrations were interesting and different. I liked it. I think adults will enjoy reading this to kids and it will open discussion about many topics.

The illustrations by Columbian artist José Sanabria are beautiful enough to hang in any museum. And this little book has a big message about being patient as your life’s purpose is revealed. All told through the story of a newstand newspaper, whose pages are scattered across the village and used in various ways ... to line a bird cage, clean a mirror, keep a homeless person warm during a cold night, and bring long-awaited happy news to a once downcast man. Five thumbs up!

Thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#APageInTheWind #NetGalley

This is one of my favorite Netgalley picture book ARCs yet. It’s the kind of book that upon reading it, I just had SO many ideas about how to use it with kids ... I love a book that inspires like this. Writing prompts, art prompts, a combo of the two!? I can see bringing in newspaper from home type projects, I can see this as an intro to a nonfiction or journalism unit as a fun twist, I can see this as an investigation of perspectives.. I can see this as a journal entry or continuing the story prompt.. what was on that last page? what happens next? OH, the ideas. And of course, pull up a map to learn a bit about Colombia, too.. gosh, all the fun. Other people read this and nerd out with me? I can’t wait to see the many ways this one gets used. Simple, beautiful, and full of possibility!

It's interesting that the story is told from the perspective of the newspaper. That's a unique take on finding purpose in the world. I like the way the ending is left with some questions about the last page of the newspaper. I appreciate that the story shows how all of our roles are valuable.

5★
A newspaper is 'born' in a big warehouse, carried off with the other 'newborns', keeping each other warm in a stack on the newsstand.

This intriguing, almost mystical little fable tells the travels and travails of a single issue, watching all of its mates being adopted.

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "Finally someone took the first of us."]

One by one, people have selected a paper to enjoy.

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "One by one, everyone's life story began."]

But our little paper is the last one on the stand until a strong gust picks it up and blows it out into the wind.

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "I came apart and began a long journey"]

One page blows in the window of a woman who looks a little down, sweeping and cleaning. She finds a use for this piece of paper. [Disclaimer: I've often used newspaper, too, because the newsprint used to help clean glass. Don't know if the new inks do.]

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "With my arrival, her face grew bright again."]

Hmm. . . not really what this little paper was born to do. But it does find another good purpose.

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "I found love."]

Very nice! But still not what this newspaper can see is the purpose of a good newspaper. Different pages end up in different situations, until finally, one blows into a window where a despondent man slouches over to the couch with it, sits down and smooths down the page.

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "He looked at me and I looked at him."]

YES! This is what a newspaper is for! The man is READING! The cover of the book shows this man's glee as he reads something he really wanted to read.

At last! the right piece of news has reached the right person.

[My Goodreads review includes the illustration saying: "But I knew then why I had come into the world."]

The artwork is brooding and mystical and rough, with small touches everywhere that will inspire thoughtful discussion. It doesn't have easy-to-interpret primary colours but has a more complex appeal.

I would love to see this read with children, slowing down the process and talking about each picture. Each one suggests a backstory and a future. This should encourage children to explore many possibilities.

It would also make a good film or video with the right music and narrator.

If you'd like to see some more and a really good review, check out Jen's here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2391063973

Thanks to NetGalley and North South Books for the gorgeous preview copy. Due to be published September 2018.