A Wild Windy Night

Blustery weather sends a child and their toys on a nocturnal quest in this onomatopoeic tale. As a child and caregiver prepare for bed, a "Whoosh" leads to a "Rattle" as the windows shake. The child's toys are sucked outside, and the dot-eyed protagonist, portrayed with pale skin and brown hair, soon follows--Abe's cinematic art shows the whole crew being whisked skyward toward a luminous full moon. Their destination is a deciduous forest where the group commences a game of hide-and-seek. The wind proves a formidable seeker, but the child eludes it until, at last, the game concludes with a calming domestic moment. Smudgy layers of color make for moody scenes that enrich this dreamy portrait of bedtime turned imaginative outing. Ages 3-5. (Mar.)