The Boy and the Wild Blue Girl by Keith Negley
ISBN: 0062846809
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Everyone in town finds the wild blue girl to be a nuisance — everyone, except Poul. The wild blue girl seems to cause distruction and frustration everywhere she goes, but Poul can see that she’s just trying to help. He decides to build something that will show everyone how wonderful and helpful the wild blue girl really can be.

This book is based on the work of Poul la Cour and his invention of wind turbines. The concept is a good one, I’m just not sure how well it will work with the intended audience. The text is very simple which may draw in younger readers, and they may miss the connection betweetn the wild blue girl and the wind. Used as a one-on-one read aloud, however, this book could spark wonderful conversations about energy use, metaphor, and so much more. The bright, pencil drawing illustrations are wonderful and really add to the story. You can feel the energy of the wild blue girl through the movement of the artwork. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME