WINDY’S BIG FEELINGS

A small cloud learns emotional awareness from Mama-cloud in Webb’s picture book.

Windy is a fluffy pink-hued cloud who likes to create breezes: “I do lots of cool tricks when I exhale; / I can help FLY a kite and BILLOW a sail!” The cloud helps birds and butterflies fly higher and blows through wind chimes. Sometimes, according to their Mama, they get angry and blow a little too hard and turn into a tornado. Mama reminds Windy to calm down and take a deep breath. The next morning, the tiny cloud feels bad about having gotten so mad, and Mama reassures Windy that everyone gets emotional sometimes. Webb’s rhyming couplets feel easy and natural, never forced, and the iambic tetrameter has a soothing musicality that reinforces the theme of managing emotions: “I wake up and feel sad that I caused such a scene; / I don’t like getting so angry or mean.” The pages integrate Coller’s full-color pictures with subtly wavy text that evokes the breezy narration. The illustrations have a three-dimensional quality with misty settings in the distant background; the colors become more vibrant, contrasting light and dark, when Windy gets mad. Overall, this book may be a good distraction when youngsters’ emotions are rising, due to its calming cadence and relatable story.

A comforting validation of feelings and their effects.