It is just another ordinary morning when Mizuto farewells his father as he leaves for work. His father will be travelling on a new seaside route to get to work today. As his father travels along the coast road, out beneath the ocean the ground is groaning and shifting. The sea heaves and hurls, creating giant waves that speed towards the shore. They smash into the coastline. Then they were gone. And so were many things.
Mizuto is very sad. He imagines his dad returning every night. He can’t find his happiness. He misses his mother’s smile. His feelings grow as big as an ocean.
One day he overhears people talking about Kaze no Denwa. It is a phone connected to the wind. A way to talk to missing loved ones.
Mizuto decides to look for the phone so he heads out to Otsuchi. He walks through the tangle of rubble and mud that were once homes. He reaches the top of a hill to discover the phone booth. He lifts the receiver. Psssh! Was that the ocean? Or the wind? Or …
This book is inspired by the tragedy of the tidal wave that struck the coast of Japan. It is the story a little boy’s journey of grief and how sending his words through Kaze no Denwa, into the wind, helps Mizuto and then his mother find some inner peace. A way to restart their lives together.
Mizuto and the Wind brought giant tears to my eyes. It is a story of great sadness but also of great hope. Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki’s illustrations simple and beautiful. They provide a strong sense of place and allow us to share Mizuto’s emotions.
A beautiful book.
Reviewed by Jane Stephens
Age Guide 5+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaye Baillie is a writer of fiction and non-fiction children’s picture books. She has a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing. In 2022 her picture book When The Waterhole Dries Up was shortlisted in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Awards and many of her picture books have won or been shortlisted in awards such as the NSW Premier’s History Awards, West Australian Young Readers Book Awards, Speech Pathology Australia Book Awards and the Children’s Peace Literature Award.
Her work has been published in Australia and internationally. One of Kaye’s passions is bringing stories about remarkable people to young readers.
She is an active member and the Assistant Co-ordinator of SCBWI Victoria, Australia and is a member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. She lives in a coastal town in Australia with her family.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Luisa is a professional illustrator, artist and teacher based in Victoria. After spending over a decade in Japan, her personal style has developed with influences from vibrant Japanese culture, mixed in with art of today and traces of the coast and ocean where she lives now.
She uses inks, watercolour, acrylic, pastel, pen and pencil to create her colourful imagery traditionally and digitally manipulates them.
Luisa’s style varies but is underpinned by her Fine Art training and love of colour.
She has illustrated over 30 books in both the education and trade markets and also creates original works for clients.
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