Where the Wind Blows

A poetic picture book about growing up

Camping at the bow of her father’s boat, Milda gazes at the cliffs straight ahead. Through her binoculars, she spots puffins in flight. Soon, the boat comes to a stop and Milda steps ashore onto the beach.

Vik, a young puffin, is ready to take her first flight. Perched on the edge of the cliff with her grandmother by her side, she prepares to spread her wings for the very first time.

Then, suddenly, the wind rises and the mist rolls in. The two collide, bringing Milda and Vik together for a brief, suspended moment in which they feel as though they are alone in the world.

With her poetic, melodious writing, Julie Rouanne gives perfect rhythm to this story about growing up. Mélodie Baschet’s magnificent gouache illustrations beautifully complement the text and transport us all the way to the Icelandic coast.

An introspective and contemplative picture book, told with great sensitivity and restraint.

Key selling points:

◊ A beautifully poetic picture book about the moment when a child begins to grow up.

◊ The perspectives of a bird and a little girl cross and come together.

◊ Melodious writing that enchants from the very first words.

◊ Gouache illustrations capturing the beauty of Iceland’s cliffs.

Author & Illustrator

Julie Rouanne makes her picture-book debut with this title. She loves telling stories about childhood and that very special moment when a child begins to grow up. She currently works as a bookseller at Candide in Brussels and produces the podcast Tantôt. Another of her picture books will be published by Pastel in spring 2025.

Mélodie Baschet graduated from the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, where she studied furniture design. She is drawn to projects that reflect who she is and that bring nature and the animals she loves so much back into the spotlight. Her previous publications include Le Vieil Arbre (L’Étagère du bas).