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by Gary Ross (Author), Matthew Myers (Illustrator)
Bartholomew Biddle's life has always been pretty ordinary, but when a huge wind blows past his window one night, he feels the call of adventure - and he can't resist the urge to grab his bedsheet and catch a ride. Soon he's soaring far above his little town, heading wherever the wind takes him! After spending time on an island full of pleasure-seeking pirates and at a prep school that boasts a hundred shades of gray, Bart finds himself in a mysterious cove where the wind doesn't blow. Stuck, Bart is forced to face the fact that his flying days might be over. Will he ever get home again?
"Starred Review. With a seductively Seuss-ean cadence, Ross' verse adventure delightfully dares young and old to seize the day. Ages 6-11." - Kirkus Reviews
"The intended audience is not clear. With a picture book format of 92 pages, it is too long for young children and may not hold the interest of older readers all the way through." - Children's Literature
"Ross's screenwriter background serves his debut well—this novella-in-verse boasts engaging characters, a sturdy plot, and the never-fail enchantment of flying...The pirate episode is the only unnecessary freight in an otherwise fast-moving story about the potential for greatness within every child. It's not hard to imagine this on a big screen." - Publishers Weekly
This information about Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Gary Ross is a critically acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer who has been nominated for four Academy Awards. His films include Big, Dave, Pleasantville, Seabiscuit, and The Tale of Despereaux. Most recently, he directed The Hunger Games, the first movie based on Suzanne Collins's best-selling dystopian trilogy. He has also served as president of the Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Public Library, as well as on the boards of many other organizations. Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind is his first children's book. Gary Ross lives in Los Angeles with his family.
Matthew Myers is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including Tyrannosaurus Dad by Liz Rosenberg and Clink by Kelly DiPucchio. Matthew Myers lives in Brooklyn.
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