Mirandy and Brother Wind

by Patricia C. / Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney McKissack

Paperback, 1989

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Genres

Children's Books

Collection

Your library

Publication

Knopf / Trumpet Club, 1989 (1989), Edition: First Edition

Description

To win first prize in the Junior Cakewalk, Mirandy tries to capture the wind for her partner.

User reviews

LibraryThing member anita.west

Mirandy and Brother Wind is a story about a little girl (Mirandy) and her desire to be the big winner at the local cakewalk jubilee. Mirandy is told that if she can capture Brother Wind and take him as her dance partner to the cakewalk, she would be a sure winner. Mirandy set out on an adventure to

catch Brother Wind, but in most instances he swooshed or whooshed away. She eventually was able to catch Brother Wind and she did win the cakewalk – but Brother Wind was not her partner. You will have to read the story to see how she won and who she danced with that night.

In this story, the author and the illustrator have incorporated clothing and language in a way that leads the reader to the assumption that this story takes place in the early 1900’s, thus is historical fiction. The author also included a note about how the cakewalk was first introduced by American slaves and was a dance rooted in Afro-American culture. I loved the author’s note because it helped me to connect to the author and the story itself. I learned about where the cakewalk originated from which was neat because I always enjoyed the cakewalks when we would go to a function that had one.

As classroom extension ideas I would first host a cakewalk in our classroom. I could have the student’s bring in cakes and then host the cake walk as a dance competition, as the book suggested, then host a cakewalk in the manner that I am used to where you walk in a circle of numbers and when the music stops they pick a number and if you are on that number you win a cake. I think the students would really like this activity. Second, I could have the students tell or write about a tradition in their culture or family that they think is fun.

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LibraryThing member Brooke28

Award Winner...A black girl is excitedly awaits for her fist cakewalk. Very beautiful pictures and rich language used.

LibraryThing member aprilcm

This story about a young girl carrying on tradition of cake walking (dancing around and being judged in order to win a cake) encounters a problem when trying to get her perfect dance partner. She heard her grandmama say that if you have Brother Wind on your side he will do your bidding. So, Mirandy

tries all kinds of ways to catch the wind but he keeps alluding her. She tells her troubles to a male friend who is amused by the situation yet really would like to be her partner. This book won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King award. The author's note describes how cake walks stem from slaves. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book with a lovely ending!

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LibraryThing member conuly

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.

LibraryThing member katie.harrel

Genre: fantasy

This is a good fantasy because it talks about how a little girl is trying to catch Brother wind. It is personifying the wind to be a person-like object that walks and interacts with people. In the end, Mirandy did catch the wind but the twist changes how she uses him.

Age Appropriate:

primary or intermediate
Rubric: 28

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LibraryThing member justine.marxer

age app: primary

Genre: Fantasy

Review: this is a good example of fantasy because the reader is engrossed in the story despite the fact the wind is personified. The story was written in memory of Patricia's grandparents who won a cakewalk.

LibraryThing member amymonjeau

This story is about a girl named Mirandy who is going to her first cakewalk, wants to capture brother wind to be her partner and win. She uses every attempt to capture brother wind and fails, so captured him in a barn and askes him to grant her one wish. Mirandy wants that Ezel can dance well, then

Mirandy and Ezel win the cakewalk togther.

This story gives children such a great imagination to any child that hears and sees the colorful pictures and story.

In the classroom we could use the children of going outside and say feel the wind on your face, that could be brother wind right now going by us this minute what do you think?

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LibraryThing member Arianna21

Primary/Intermediate
Genre: Folktale- I said this was a folktale but I'm not really sure. I think this is a folktale because it was said in the book that people believed that Brother Wind could be caught and you could get a wish from him. I wasn't sure if this was a story that had been retold time

and time again or not.
Character: Mirandy is very strong willed. She is round- we know her character and we know what she is trying to do- get a date for the cake walk.

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LibraryThing member lpeal

This is the story about a girl named Mirandy. She thinks that she can catch the wind, which everyone else calls the Brother Wind. A tell says that if you can catch Brother wind you can make make him do anything you want. She want sti catch him so that she can go to the cake walk with her friend

Ezel, who is usually clumsy but this time he does the best he has ever done. THis is a great book that says that says a dreams are possible.

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LibraryThing member szierdt

A great folktale representing African American culture and diologue in the early 1900's.

LibraryThing member justkaye

This book is a Caldecott winner. It has beautiful illustration that knows no boundaries on the pages of the book. The cover is illustrated in a way that the reader can get an idea of the story just by looking at it. The illustration on the front cover flows the the back cover and tempts the reader

to open its pages. The story is set in Mississippi in the 1950's. The language is challenging and written in a way that allows the reader to hear the accents of the characters. This book is great for a read aloud since some of the words are very difficult and written in a way that would not allow an early reader to manipulate. This book could be read to a kindergarten class all the way up to 4th grade. The story follows a child named Mirandy on a quest to capture brother wind so that she will win the cakewalk. She is so intent on capturing the wind that she fails to notice a boy who wishes to take her to the cakewalk instead of brother wind. Mirandy uses the knowledge of her elders to realize what is right and what is actually attainable. In the end Mirandy really does use brother wind to her advantage while recognizing the feelings of the real people around her. This book would be great in a classroom to:
-read aloud to the children
-allow children to explore the wonderful illustrations
-talk about different cultures and races
-explain reality and fantasy
-look at a world that is close to ours yet so different
-discuss why the author used words in the way he did
-see the dress and customs of Mirandy's time
-realize and think about other peoples emotions

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LibraryThing member miraclerussell

Summary: Mirandy is getting ready for the cakewalk and needs a partner. She's hoping that for the cakewalk she catches Brother Wind and make him her partner because she's guaranteed to win. The cakewalk in this story is an African-American tradition of competitive line dancing, not the modern

carnival game. Mirandy catches Brother Wind and wins the cakewalk.

Personal Reactions: I love the was the illustrator made wind something lifeless and make it so lifelike. The way the pictures are illlustrated makes it easy for students to connect with. All of the colors in the book are vibrant and clear. Also, I love how the author gave a background into some of her family history which is what this book and story is based off of.

Classroom Extension Ideas: 1. I would let the students get into pairs and line dance for a fun activity.
2. The students could take the recipe from the book and try and make a cake for their very own Cakewalk!

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LibraryThing member crfonten

“Mirandy and Brother Wind” was interesting because of the mixer of beautiful illustrations and an interesting story line. The illustrations in this book seemed to follow the words more closely. You could read the words and get the whole story, or you could just look at the illustrations and get

the whole story. My favorite illustrations from this book would probably be the last page. On this page, Mirandy is seen dancing away with Ezel (the boy she likes) and surrounded by Brother Wind. The whole story was about her trying to catch Brother Wind, but when she finally got what she wanted (Ezel), Brother Wind was right beside her and easy to catch.

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LibraryThing member kristendickerson

Mirandy is all excited about the Cake Walk dance coming up. She wants the wind to be her partner so she can win. However, she can not catch the wind she still goes on a quest to ask friends and neighbors how to find the wind before the cake walk.

Personal Reaction:

I liked this book and Mirandy it

showed how determined of a girl she was and how hard work pays off.

Extensions:
1. Have a cake walk for the class.
2. Show kids how you to work hard to get things accomplished and be successful.

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LibraryThing member wichitafriendsschool

In this Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award winning tale, Mirandy is determined to capture the best partner for the junior cakewalk jubilee. And who is the best partner? The wind, of course! Grandmama Beasley says, “Can’t nobody put shackles on Brother Wind, chile. He be special. He be

free.” With neighbors up and down Ridgetop suggesting all manner of strategies, and friend Ezel laughing at each foiled one, Mirandy grows ever more determined: she’ll get hold of that Brother Wind yet! Patricia C. McKissack’s thoroughly engaging tale dances with spirit and rollicking good humor. Complemented by Jerry Pinkney’s rich, eye-catching watercolors of the rural South, here’s one of those rare, rewarding picture books that is sure to be read and enjoyed again and again.

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