Listening to The Wind and the Trees

The Wind and the Trees by Canadian author/illustrator Todd Stewart is a deceptively simple story that conveys fundamental knowledge about the cycles of life and the interconnectedness of trees and their environment in a pitch-perfect synthesis of art and text.

The Wind and the Trees, written and illustrated by Todd Steward.
Published by Owl Kids Books in English in 2021.
Originally published as Quand le vent soufflé in 2019.

In 180 words (yes, I counted them!) Stewart tells the story of these relationships. In the beginning, one tree is mature and the other is a new seedling. By the end, much has changed, largely portrayed through an unspoken storyline provided by the illustrations.

Hello!/Hello.

The shape of clouds, movement of birds, bending of boughs, and slant of precipitation all express the impact of that invisible force, the wind. Vibrant, changing color palettes in double-page spreads add energy to the sparse conversation between the two trees, enlivening what might otherwise be a static story. 

Up here, the wind always blows, day and night, year after year.

Stewart’s restraint with words allows the illustrations to fully engage readers, while also leaving space to imagine and absorb. The tall trim size and orientation perfectly suit the topic.

So how do you feel about the wind?/I embrace it. Like this!

By the end, the reader is left feeling not only the poignancy of the life cycle for trees but for ourselves, too. In words, art, and design it is a beautiful story, beautifully told.