A magical tale of childhood mysteries and the fear of letting go.

When a stray twist of wind finds its way indoors, music practice and Nature combine to give young Amanda and her cello the power to soothe babies and settle fractious preschoolers. The wind plays inside the sound box, and with the strings, and sometimes outside them, carrying its adventurous tales into the ears willing to hear. And yet, as Amanda grows, the cello gets too small for her larger hands and arms. Eventually the day arrives....

Every page of this simple tale was a delight. I was carried along by the whimsical story and the childlike wonder of the illustrations.

This book was just a bit too strange and unusual for me. I don't think that I understood what this book was about, and I don't think a child will get it either.

Synopsis: The wind enters into Amanda’s cello, and we see Amanda grow into a skilled musician as she interacts with this whimsical spirit.

Favourite Scene: The description of the wind in the beginning gave me an excited tingle down my spine. Also, the recurring humor of nagging parents when it comes to music practice – so fun.
For illustrations, the page with the puzzled Amanda and the cat looking down from the piano made me smile, and I love all the little details.

Enjoyment Rating: FIVE STARS
I love the opening lines of the text – the author created a treat for the senses. And the illustrations! I love the cat (who wouldn’t?!), but also the colours, and the musical instruments. I was so excited to turn every page and take in the feast of words and images.

Weak Points: This is a nitpicky thing – there was such a rich simplicity to the text and pictures in the beginning. But on pages 26/27, the illustrations looked word heavy. Maybe this is less an issue as a hand held book? (I read it as an ebook).

Ponder Rating: FIVE STARS
Is the wind the muse? The child-like wonder that eventually matures into skill? I feel like there is an idea there that has layers, and is a little mysterious. I am a slow thinker, so this sort of thing is my favourite to find in a book – something to ponder and maybe have an ‘aha’ moment when I wake up in the middle of the night or read it for the fifth time.

Conclusion: This book made me reconsider how kids experience music – they have a whimsical sort of wonder we sometimes lose as adults, and that is worth remembering (especially for those of us who teach music). Overall, a rich experience! I’ll be recommending this one.