I Am Wind - by Rachel Poliquin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Non-Fiction picture book about the wind. Thrilling combination of the science of air flow and the myths, legends, stories and beliefs different cultures hold about the wind. Includes tales like Odysseus and the bag of wind and the origins of the Kamikaze winds of Japan"--

Book Synopsis

In this beautifully illustrated mock-autobiography for middle-grade readers, Wind speaks directly to the reader, telling fascinating stories that show their cultural, historical and technical importance to humans.

Make no mistake: Wind is not shy or humble. Wind is violent, impulsive, arrogant and unpredictable -- now playing with a kite, then tearing down a forest.

With the help of diagrams and fact-filled sidebars, Wind explains what causes the air to move, describes their favorite forms (katabatics, hurricanes, tornadoes) and shows how they influence the landscape (sand dunes, wind power). Readers will come to know the full breadth of Wind's physical, historical and psychological presence. Moving seamlessly between science, history and myth, this book is an engrossing and unique look at an elemental force.

Review Quotes

A 2025 Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year

"Juxtaposing a poetic narration of wind telling its own 'life story' with myths, folk traditions, historical vignettes, and the solid science behind wind's power and mystery, [I Am Wind] expresses an artistic and literary aesthetic not often seen in science texts for younger scholars." --STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"Storm-swept illustrations carry a full bag of facts, myths, legends, and original poems about our planet's winds. Poliquin's free verse expressions alternate with short but clear explanations in prose and Wada's vivid, sometimes schematic depictions of types and causes of storms, from destructive katabatic winds to hurricanes and tornados." --Kirkus Reviews

"The lengthy work underscores how humans have used the wind's movements to explore and sail, to harness power via windmills, and, more recently, to generate electricity. Wada uses rhythmically stroked, digitally finished visuals to convey the subject's movement, ranging from scenes in which a child's hair ribbon is tossed by the breeze to those of destruction wrought by tornadoes and hurricanes." --Publishers Weekly

"Wada's mixed-media illustrations echo the emotions in the text, swirling color and linear elements to depict the flow of wind and the movement of objects in its wake." --The Horn Book

"This lushly illustrated STEAM picture book takes the form of an autobiography of a mysterious force: the wind. Written in original free-form poetry, this work introduces various deities drawn from Greek, Sumerian, Hawaiian, Chinese, Hindu, and Iroquois traditions, all connected to the wind." --Booklist

About the Author

RACHEL POLIQUIN is a writer engaged in all things orderly and disorderly in the natural world. With a cross-disciplinary background in visual arts, cultural history and natural history, she holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of British Columbia and a Post-Doctoral Degree in History from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rachel is the author of the Polite Predators and Superpower Field Guide series, and other children's books including Beastly Puzzles. She has also written for Science Friday, The Believer Magazine, and the New York Times.

RACHEL WADA was born in Japan, grew up briefly in Hong Kong and China, and now lives and works in Vancouver, BC. She started drawing at a very young age, perhaps as a way of transcending the language barriers of the cities she grew up in. Rachel's cultural roots and upbringing continue to inspire her work to this day. She graduated with a B.F.A. in Illustration from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2016. Her children's book debut, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden written by Heather Smith, was shortlisted for the Pacific Northwest Book Award. Rachel's work can also be found in newspapers, magazines and online publications.