Okay. The point of the book is about planting trees. Trees help tame wind (which I kind of dispute but who am I to judge or compete with nature ;)).

More what I loved in this story was Kate helping out a lonely old man. Little things that reinforce the human spirit are amazing. ( )

I liked the innovative long-term problem solving here. ( )

"What to do?" a man wonders from his house on the tip-top of a dusty hill, and his words (and his hat) float down to Kate on the wind. Kate knows that she cannot stop the wind, but she pulls a wagon full of tree saplings up to the man. Together they plant them. "The trees grew, and the wind blew, and the time flew. The time flew as the trees grew...and Kate did, too." The illustrations show Kate growing up and the man aging as the trees grow up to provide a windbreak.

A gentle story in rhythmic language, full of rhyme, about an intergenerational friendship, creative problem-solving, and ecosystems. Back matter includes "more about marvelous trees," and how readers can make a difference. The color palette and style is reminiscent of Kenard Pak's books about the seasons changing (Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn). ( )

This book would be great to use with visualizing because when the wind is taking over the house on the hill, the students would be able to use their minds to really see what it may look like to have dishes flying off the table, or siding off the house. Dually along with the visualizing, the students would be able to have a discussion as to why the more trees on the hill meant less wind damage.

An old man lives on a treeless hill and suffers dusty, windy days. A little girl helps plant several tree saplings that grow over the years and create a windbreak.