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Brother to the Wind
With the help of Good Snake, a young African boy gets his dearest wish.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
26 people want to read
About the author
Mildred Pitts Walter
35 books10 followersDelegate to the 2nd World Black and African Festival of the Arts & Culture in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977. Graduate of Southern University with an MA in education from Antioch College. She lives in Denver, Colorado, and travels widely as an educational consultant.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 16, 2019
This story is exciting and a little scary. Emeke is a dreamer. Truly, in his dreams he soars like a bird on the winds and, in waking, is certain that he can do so…with a little help.
His faith in his grandmother’s stories and his search for the mythical Good Snake who will grant his wish is an epic journey writ small. No one else believes in Emeke and we feel his growing pain at their ridicule and his father’s scorn. Uncertainty begins to set in and who can blame him? Snakes aren’t commonly portrayed as trustworthy creatures; almost every mythology paints them as sly, venomous deceivers.
Believing in Good Snake isn’t the only test of his trust; along the way he must hope that the various creatures he meets are equally truthful. Emeke’s belief can be seen as the shining conviction of one in touch with mystic, unseen things or the idiotic stubbornness of a willful child. This is a children’s story so we’re (mostly) certain of a happy outcome. But the plaintive prose keeps you guessing.
I was first drawn to this because the illustrators are the fantastic Dillons, whose works draw me back to them again and again. I’ll even buy books I already own if I come across new versions with their illustrations in them! They don’t disappoint here, with each page featuring their distinctive style, realistic and symbolic at once. Each page glows with soft colors, the vibrant images perfect complements to the text.
If you’re a Dillon fan and don’t have this book, find and add it to your collection. It’s worth it.
His faith in his grandmother’s stories and his search for the mythical Good Snake who will grant his wish is an epic journey writ small. No one else believes in Emeke and we feel his growing pain at their ridicule and his father’s scorn. Uncertainty begins to set in and who can blame him? Snakes aren’t commonly portrayed as trustworthy creatures; almost every mythology paints them as sly, venomous deceivers.
Believing in Good Snake isn’t the only test of his trust; along the way he must hope that the various creatures he meets are equally truthful. Emeke’s belief can be seen as the shining conviction of one in touch with mystic, unseen things or the idiotic stubbornness of a willful child. This is a children’s story so we’re (mostly) certain of a happy outcome. But the plaintive prose keeps you guessing.
I was first drawn to this because the illustrators are the fantastic Dillons, whose works draw me back to them again and again. I’ll even buy books I already own if I come across new versions with their illustrations in them! They don’t disappoint here, with each page featuring their distinctive style, realistic and symbolic at once. Each page glows with soft colors, the vibrant images perfect complements to the text.
If you’re a Dillon fan and don’t have this book, find and add it to your collection. It’s worth it.
April 11, 2014
A modern story told in the fashion of a folktale drawing from African symbolism and mythology.
Emeke wants to fly, but he is a boy and boys can't fly! He visits Good Snake and asks her to help him to fly. Good Snake gives instructions for Emeke to follow to make his desire come true. Despite the continued nay-saying of his fellow villagers, Emeke forges ahead.
Lovely artwork by the Dillons in full color on every page.
Emeke wants to fly, but he is a boy and boys can't fly! He visits Good Snake and asks her to help him to fly. Good Snake gives instructions for Emeke to follow to make his desire come true. Despite the continued nay-saying of his fellow villagers, Emeke forges ahead.
Lovely artwork by the Dillons in full color on every page.
June 15, 2011
the Dillons did the art. the dillons did the art.
that there is a wonderfully written story is just a bonus.
that there is a wonderfully written story is just a bonus.
January 30, 2012
I love the pictures, there is so much to see. Emeke wants to fly, and the Good Snake can make any wish come true. Emeke goes on a quest for the Good Snake and the right wind. This is a fun story.
July 1, 2013
3.5 stars :-)
The Dillons do justice to this tale of a boy who wants to fly and who seeks out Good Snake in hopes of having his wish fulfilled.
The Dillons do justice to this tale of a boy who wants to fly and who seeks out Good Snake in hopes of having his wish fulfilled.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews