Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Per an opening note, Xiong takes inspiration from Guo Zhong Chan's Memories of Xiang Zhou to spin this evocative, nature-centered story about a mythical miniature being called a Treeling who takes a disruptive "walk with the wind." The wind impatiently initiates the outing, awakening the pale-skinned, dark-haired babe and then stealing their tangerine-colored triangular cap (a rare splash of color across a palette otherwise composed of muted grays and sages). Turning into "a great gale," the wind carries the Treeling aloft across a range of topographies and past myriad creatures, including "mushroom people" soaking up sun. Active verbs describe the swirling chaos provoked by every encounter, while delicate paintings depict cranes getting twisted up, monkeys clinging to a tree, and more. In each case, the Treeling--merely along for the ride--emphasizes, "It wasn't me!" Eventually, the Treeling chastises their unruly companion, and "the tempest became a breeze, and slowly whispered along" behind. Meditative depictions of the fanciful relationship cast an atmospheric spell. "Wind Poem" concludes. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-Gr 3--It's difficult to imagine any child of any age who will not be charmed by the protagonist in this story from an ancient Chinese text, Memories of Xiang Zhou, by Guo Zhong Chan. "If an ancient mountain forest is left alone and not damaged or disturbed for a period of at least several hundred years, it will spontaneously produce a kind of miniature being known as the Mu Ke, or the Treelings." As the story opens, the ungendered, light-skinned Treeling is asleep, then swept up by the antics of the ferocious wind. As it roars through the landscape, disrupting inhabitants large and small, the grouchy then worried Treeling's mantra becomes an apologetic "It wasn't me." The wind, like the main character in Drew Beckmeyer's I Am a Tornado, weakens, and the Treeling is delivered back to bed. Resembling pencil drawings that have been puddled with a muted palette of watercolors, the illustrations are child-pleasers; readers, like Treelings, often feel pulled by events or beings into moments beyond their control. The story is underwhelming, more of a shaggy dog tale than the wonderful premise set up by the note that opens it. It's critical to include such picture books in collections, though, despite the wobble in the execution. VERDICT This may be the story that sends readers off to research other ancient stories from China. And Treelings certainly feel like a merch moment waiting to happen.--Kimberly Olson Fakih
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The wind compels a tiny creature from peaceful sleep to embark on blustery adventures. A tan-skinned, green-hoodied "miniature being," one of the Mu Ke, or Treelings, cozily slumbers until "quietly, the wind approaches" with whispered entreaties: "Hurry! Get up! Let's go out for a walk." When the Treeling is too slow to respond, the wind hurtles its "little tangerine cap" out into the open, forcing the minuscule being to give chase. "Maybe I didn't want to go on a walk!" the Treeling mutters, but the wind quickly turns into a huge storm, carrying its companion through the mountain forest. The wind awakens hibernating bears, tosses and tangles birds, blows over magical beings, and tumbles boulders. "Come join us for a walk," the wind coerces, while the Treeling repeatedly attempts to apologize for the ensuing chaos. "STOP!!!" the Treeling finally demands, impressively calming the tempest into a gentle breeze. Chinese artist/author Xiong effectively highlights the natural environment with swirling shades of verdigris. The contrasting orange cap pops off the pages, suggesting its importance to Treeling identity; an older Treeling sports a similar cap as the tiny protagonist. Xiong's opening note revealsMemories of Xiang Zhou, an ancient Chinese text, as the Treelings' provenance; third-century BCE poet Song Yu's inspirational "Wind Poem" is appended. Polyglot Garcia Roberts provides the translation for Xiong's vivid, sweeping text. A deft account of a diminutive being standing up to a mighty force.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
