Listen to the Wind

Name of Book: Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea

Author: Greg Mortenson & Susan L. Roth

Illustrator: Susan L. Roth

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Audience: Ages 3-6

Summary: A story told from the perspective of the children present in the village when changes occurred, based upon the adult book Three Cups of Tea. The children share their perspective of the story of an injured hiker who is cared for and healed in the village and then promises to return to build the village a school. The book also contains a photo scrapbook of actual people, events and places that were pertinent to the actual story in Three Cups of Tea.

Literary elements at work in the story: The story is told through collage, from the first person collective point of view of the village children. It is set in the village of Korphe in Pakistan. The children share their excitement about Dr. Greg’s return to the village to build a school, out of a promise made when the village nursed him to health.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story? The reality of the village poverty is resounding; the children have no materials for school and a teacher that visits only once a month. At the end of the book, an explanation of the Pennies for Peace foundation shares that $1.00 American will provide funding for one child’s education for an entire month in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The story shows a white American male coming to make changes, which can play in to the American identity of “coming to the rescue.”

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Theology: We are the body of Christ in the world, the church of God. We are called and gathered by God into this one body for the purpose of worship and service. God creates the church and we live as part of it, in loving relationship with God. God gives the church work to do in the world, telling the story of God’s love for us all in Jesus.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What did the village people do for Dr. Greg?
2. What gift did Dr. Greg promise to bring to the village? Did he follow through on his promise?
3. Why is it important for us to help other people who don’t have a much as we have?
4. What is something that you can do to help someone, sort of like Dr. Greg did?

Review prepared by Mason Todd, Union-PSCE in Charlotte

Another review of this book was posted on January 4, 2010.