Illustrations make the book and this one struggles. And the text was slightly brusque. Made me wonder if it was a translation. ( )

When the strong wind in Iceland blows, it is up to the women in the village to fix the problem. They plant trees to stopped the wind but they run into problems. This book shows teamwork and problem-solving strategies. ( )

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind is a story that is based off of a folk tale, about ladies in Iceland who decide to plant trees to stop the wind. There are some bits of humor and great illustrations. I love that it was the women and their chickens who took it upon themselves to stop the destruction that the wind was causing them. It’s a great tale about women who come together and quietly fix things about the weather and its outcome. Not only is this book discussing the powers of wind and weather but readers can also learn from the power of collaboration and working together. ( )

This is a delightful book, with wonderfully understated humor. It deals with two constants in Icelandic life: the wind, and the sheep that keep any trees from growing. The illustrations fully express the understated humor of the text - I laughed several times when I first read the book, and I keep finding new details I did not notice the first time through. And they couldn't be of any location but Iceland. ( )

Summary: The ladies of Iceland are trying to stop the wind but the chickens and cows aren't cooperating and the sheep keep eating the trees! The ladies finally build fences around the towns that stop the wind but the countryside remains windy.

Genre: Traditional Literature

Media: oil paintings on canvas