The bellowing West Wind - bored, and determined to stir up some mischief - pays a visit to his quiet cousin, the East Wind, in this folktale from Borneo, challenging him to a contest of strength. The East Wind, longing only for a nap, and far wiser than his tempestuous relative, suggests that they each attempt to get Kodok - the tiny tree frog - out of his tree. This seemingly easy task proves more troublesome than West Wind first envisioned, as Kodok withstands everything from a hearty gust to a full-scale typhoon. It is only when East Wind steps in, with his gentle breeze, that Kodok is lulled to sleep, and falls off his palm leaf...

I do not think I have ever met with this specific tale before - for that matter, I don't know that I've read much Bornean folklore in general - but the tale-type is one I know very well, having often encountered it. Just last week, for instance, I happened upon a similar selection in Filipino Children's Favorite Stories (The Battle of the Wind and Rain), in which strength and persuasion are similarly contrasted, in a contest to dislodge a monkey from a tree. That feeling of familiarity lent extra charm to The Match Between the Winds, which appears to be one of Climo's less well-known folkloric adaptations. The accompanying watercolor and gouache illustrations by Roni Shepard capture the sense of motion - chaos, even - in the story, as well as a sweet calm of its conclusion. All in all, an engaging picture-book, one I would recommend to young folktale lovers. ( )

“The MATCH Between the WINDS” is a retelling of a folktale told by the old grandfathers on the island of Borneo. The story is about the East and the West winds. East Wind spoke softly in a whisper but West Wind would roar. One day West Wind wanted to “pester his cousin” East Wind so he “breezed over to Borneo” and woke East Wind. In an argument about who was the best, the winds decided to have a contest. They spotted Kodok the tree frog sitting on a coconut palm leaf and decided to see who could blow him off the leaf. West Wind blows and grumbles and bellows causing the waves to jump creating a typhoon. The creatures of the sea, land, and air were frightened but Kodok the tree frog sits on his leaf smiling. Finally East Wind takes his turn. He blows gently calming the waves and all the creatures. Everything becomes quiet and peaceful in the soft breath of East Wind. Kodok the tree frog still sat on his leaf. East Wind whispers in Kodok’s ear until Kodok falls asleep and slips off the leaf making East Wind the winner. That is why East Wind is call Rajah Angin, Lord of the Winds.

This little pourquoi tale is a fun description of how the winds can create havoc or be gentle and peaceful on the tropical island of Borneo. The description of the effects of the wind includes details about the types of animals that inhabit the island. The story proves that a gentle breath, or voice, can be more acceptable to all the creatures than a loud and angry breath, or voice. The book is illustrated with paintings by Roni Shepherd. I am not a fan of expressionism and did not feel the illustrations of distorted creatures added to the story.

In the classroom the book could be used to show the different types of creatures that inhabit a tropical island. The students could study what “tropical” means and what it is like to live in that type of climate. They could create a miniature island and place miniature creatures on it to represent its inhabitants. Some of these creatures are currently near extinction. This book could be used in a lesson teaching students about what it means to become extinct and how the change in nature or the acts of humans can bring extinction to a species. ( )