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Saturday, May 14, 2022

Whirl, written by Deborah Kerbel and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon. Owkids Books, 2022. $$19.95 ages 3 and up


"Follow the wordless journey
of a maple seed, sometimes 
called a maple key or whirligig,
as it helicopters away from its 
parent tree and floats across 
a city on the autumn wind.
"

This wordless book's main character is a maple seed, also known as a samara. Wind is a special helper in getting its fascinating story started. Because of its whirligig shape, children are ever intrigued by the paths it takes to get from seed to tree. This one begins in the sky above an urban backyard. A family takes note of it, and then readers follow as it experiences multiple adventures with humans and animals. The trajectory is clearly shown through varying perspectives and paneled illustrations. It is a slow process and takes time. 

From falling off a tree in fall to finding life as a sapling, readers follow its every move. What a gift is provided by its shape and its ability to spin from one place to another. Readers will be engaged and encouraged to discuss the events shown. It is one more natural wonder for them to appreciate and understand.  After seeing this book, imagine the adventures a young audience might think about for  the first maple seed they see aloft when its time for them to make their appearance later this year. 

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