McKissack, Patricia C. (1988). Mirandy and Brother Wind. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
“Swish! Swish!
It was spring, and Brother Wind was back. He came high steppin’ through Ridgetop, dressed in his finest and trailing that long, silvery wind cap behind him.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
It is blustery in our part of Texas today. I could feel Brother Wind stepping through my neighborhood. It seemed the perfect day to pull out this wonderful book. Mirandy and Brother Wind is a crackerjack collaboration between Patricia McKissack and Jerry Pinkney. Her words and his illustrations make the story leap off the page, just as if Brother Wind swished and swooshed them. It is a wonderful story to read or tell, but it needs the blues of Brother Wind, the greens of the fields and the trees, and the vivid colors of the flowers and the fancy dress to complete the full picture.
In the story, Mirandy, lively and confident, is looking forward to her first cakewalk. Have you been to one? At some churches, cakewalks are conducted somewhat like musical chairs. I’ve participated in some of those. However, at Mirandy’s church, couples compete for a special cake by displaying their best strutting and dancing techniques. She’s determined to win and wants Brother Wind to be her partner. Trapping Brother Wind is not easy to do, but she is determined. Ezel, a clumsy neighbor boy, who would like to dance with her at the event, laughs at her attempts to catch the wind. Mirandy is determined not to dance with Ezel; he would walk all over her feet. She will dance with Brother Wind. Reading about her capture attempts is amusing. Brother Wind is wispy and wily. She is successful, but how she ultimately dances with Brother Wind is a tribute to her character.
Pick up a copy of this beautiful book. It will delight you. Perhaps you can trap the wind and trip the light fantastic at your local cakewalk.
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