Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

May 06, 2011

Luann rated it:

Even though I'm not a big fan of the wind (I live in a very windy place), I like how Jerry Pinkney has illustrated the wind here! The wind is treated as very nearly a real person in the text, and I like that he is illustrated as very nearly a real person as well. This is a fun one! I knew how it was going to end, but I still enjoyed reading it. I also really liked the author's note at the beginning so that we know Patricia McKissack's grandparents were cakewalk winners, and we are given a little More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 09, 2012

Jazmine rated it:

Mirand and Brother Wind by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is a beautifully written and illustrated chlidren’s story book. The book would make an amazing read-aloud choice for the many voices and characters that are present throughout, and the amazing illustrations that further complement the text. The story follows a young girl, Mirandy, who has one desire, to win the town cakewalk. Her mother tells her “There’s an old saying that whoever catch the Wind can make him do t More...

0 comments like

Apr 08, 2009

Alecia rated it:

Author:Patricia C. McKissack

Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Genre: fiction picture book

Publication Info:Random House Children's Books (1997)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8; early transitional

Topic/Theme: imagination, culture,

Issues Addressed: children setting their minds to achieve a goal

Social Issues:cultural gatherings; Mirandy is attending a sort of "coming of age" cake walk. She must dance in the cake walk
More...

0 comments like

Mar 09, 2009

Amy rated it:

Summary: Mirandy is looking for a dance partner for a cakewalk. She hopes to capture the Wind and make him her partner. She does not even consider her clumsy pal, Ezel. With the help of a neighbor women and her "conjure" and present, Mirandy not only catches the Wind, but "blows the competition away" after an unlikely turn of events. The story is also based on a true story of her grandparents in the early twentieth century.

Audience: grades 1-3

Uses: Pe More...

0 comments like

Jul 13, 2010

Angie rated it:

This is a Caldecott Honor book. It is a story of a little girl who believes that if she captures the wind, she will win first prize in the Junior Cakewalk. The story takes an interesting turn when Mirandy sticks up for one of her friends and decides to make him her partner in the dance - with help from the wind, Mirandy and Ezel give the town something to talk about for years to come. I think it is one of those stories your class would enjoy hearing aloud because the illustrations are so wond More...

0 comments like

May 04, 2009

Chandra rated it:

In this story Mirandy wants to capture Brother Wind so he will be her partner for the upcoming cakewalk. Cakewalk in this context is an African-American tradition of competitive line dancing, not the modern carnival game. It's clear that Mirandy's sweet friend Ezel would love to be her partner, but Mirandy is too distracted by her determination to notice. She spends her day in various attempts to capture the elusive Brother Wind. The author tells the story in a folksy, but pleasant dialect that More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 02, 2011

Mary rated it:

This is a great story. Mirandy is so full of determination as she runs around trying to capture brother wind so that she can dance well at the cakewalk. Mirandy attempts to catch the wind with advice from others in town like Grandma Beasly said he was meant to be free. Mr. Jessup said to use pepper and throw a quilt over him while he sneezed. Mis. Poinsettia talked of a conjure spell. Mirandy also had an ideas on how to capture brother wind. These mini tales within the story make this a fun book More...

0 comments like

Apr 08, 2009

Candace rated it:

I believe that this book has great ethnic representation of the South. The words that tickled my fancy were gon' (gonna), chile (child),and also tol' (told). The Southern African American culture comes out. I love the cakewalk because I remember that being such a great event for me when I was younger and would watch my relatives take part in the challenge. Great experiences mentioned in the book that many children in the South could hopefully reflect on.

0 comments like

May 12, 2010

Sandra rated it:

When you read the Author's Note, you will learn that the story is based on a photo of Patricia McKissack's grandparents dated 1906, five years before they mariried, as teenagers winning an elaborately decorated cake at a cakewalk. It also tells that the cakewalk was introduced in America by slaves and began as a dance. For me, knowing about the idea behind the story and how it was special to the author made the book more endearing.

0 comments like

Jan 26, 2010

L-Angelica rated it:

Personal response:I enjoyed the book but found some of the language used to be interesting. I would like to know what would be the best way to introduce a book like this one to children who are not African American and probalby do not recognize some of the dialect used. I had heard the word calkwalk but did not know the origin of the meaning. This book can also be listed under historical fiction because it talks about customs practiced by the Afro-American culture in history.

0 comments like

Jul 09, 2010

Angela rated it:

A beautifully illustrated historical fiction picture book. The story provides great insight into the African-American folk tradition of the cakewalk dance. The story is set in the early 1900s and is written in colloquial African American southern dialect that is true to the culture and era. A great book to tie into multiculturalism or a discussion about various folk traditions and their origins.

0 comments like

Sep 25, 2008

Cherina rated it:

Summary: Mirandy wishes to capture Brother Wind so that he can do her bidding. With the wind as her partner, Mirandy will be sure to win the cakewalk. Ezel, a clumsy young boy, teases Mirandy, saying that she will never be able to capture Brother Wind. Mirandy and Ezel partner to win the cakewalk (with the help of the wind).

Uses: This book is great for read-aloud in grades kindergarten through second. The sounds of the wind will be quite enjoyable for students to listen to. I More...

0 comments like

Apr 22, 2010

Ashley rated it:

This is a book that you should read to yourself before reading to your students. The book uses broken English and you will find yourself stumbling over the words if you're not familiar with them like my supervising teacher did. I thought that it was a little advanced for first grade but it was a good story though.

0 comments like

Jan 27, 2010

Ashley rated it:

This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I memorized and would have my grandma read it to me, and then I'd make her read it over if she ever forgot a word. I loved the thought of dancing with the wind. And I loved this story. Everything about it from the way it's told to the illustrations that are on each page.

0 comments like

Dec 01, 2010

Jessica rated it:

Story of a young girl who want to win the county cakewalk. She tries to catch brother wind to be her partner cause then she would be sure to win. Mirandy finally catchs the wind but she decides her clumsy friend Ezel should beher partner instead. For months everyone talked about how great they were.

0 comments like

Sep 05, 2009

Connie rated it:

So Mirandy wants to win the "cakewalk", a dancing contest. She knows that if she captures Mister Wind she can get him to grant a wish, and that's just what she sets out to do - wish him into dancing with her. There's a very satisfying conclusion here, nothing much to say.

0 comments like

Nov 02, 2008

Liane rated it:

Genre: Historic picture book

Reading Level: Transitional

Topics & Themes: Cakewalk. Being king to your friends.

Curricular Use: Shared reading: children can work through unfamiliar words and grammar together.

Social: Celebration of African-American culture. Competition: Mirandy did not want to dance with Klutz because would not win the cakewalk.

Literary Elements: Author note that introduces reader to the book's style and the concept/histor More...

0 comments like

Jul 03, 2009

Rachel rated it:

Loved the story and information about the Cakewalk dance contest and how Mirandy will use Brother Wind's "help" to win the dance.

0 comments like

Dec 07, 2010

Leandra rated it:

Folk talk about a little girl who wants to win a cake walk and attempts to capture and dance with the wind.

0 comments like

Oct 26, 2010

Brittany rated it:

What a beautiful story. I love the illustrations and the quest of little Mirandy after Brother Wind.

0 comments like

Jul 26, 2011

Mckinley rated it:

Dance-off, who'd you want as a partner? Not someone clumsy.
Caldecott honor.

0 comments like

Oct 13, 2010

Tania added it

This book is suitable for upper grades 3rd-5th. Good fantasy story!

0 comments like

Sep 27, 2011

Heather marked it as to-read

1989 Coretta Scott King Award (illustrator winner)

0 comments like

Mar 05, 2011

Amanda rated it:

great illustrations, long

0 comments like

Jun 10, 2008

Maria rated it:

This book has a great author's note explaining the tradition of the cake walk and that the book was inspired by a picture of her parents winning a cake walk. I remember having a cake walk at a carnival in elementary school. We didn't have nearly so much style and pretty much everyone won something. The standout part of the book though, is the art. Sweet and rustic watercolors bring an earlier time to life.

0 comments like

Dec 28, 2008

Snorkle rated it:

While I thought this book had a fairly entertaining plot and nicely done illustrations, sometimes I found it a little predictable. I can't really say anything bad about this book, but I'm not going to go around recommending it to all my friends either.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008/12...

0 comments like

Jun 08, 2008

Katharine rated it:

Wonderful illustrations, rich with color. A great story too, rich in culture. I recieved this book in hardcover as a gift, and still have it.

0 comments like

Nov 30, 2007

MissInformation rated it:

Granted a wish after catching Brother Wind, Mirandy dances her dream at a traditional cakewalk jubilee.

0 comments like

Oct 02, 2008

Ald rated it:

Good for ages 3-5. Talks about not to give up and be kind to friends. I might use it.

0 comments like

May 07, 2007

Sydney rated it:

Used to be a favorite when I was a tiny tot.

0 comments like