Tumble

PreS-Gr 1–“Wind blows/ Tumble goes.” Drifting with the desert wind, a lone tumbleweed introduces the plants and animals living in an arid terrain. A collared lizard soaks up the rays of a sultry sun, a roadrunner struts across a desolate highway, and burrowing owls emerge from ground nests. The tumbleweed freely rolls until it is entangled with a prickly pear cactus. Rain drops begin to fall, the tumbleweed anchors its roots, and pinhead-sized pink flowers bloom. Soon the scorching sun beats down on the tumbleweed and the plant dries, curling until the its roots snap and it is once again wandering through the desert. Mirroring the cyclical life of the tumbleweed, the story ends as it begins. Bergstrom’s story is told in short, rhyming couplets paired with rich, earthy illustrations. Movement is a prominent theme in this story, evident by wisps of blowing wind and bouncing dashed lines trailing the tumbleweed. This dynamism is emulated through the text’s font; ellipses curl up as the wind blows, letters hop when the tumbleweed bounces, words waver in the wind as a cactus sways. Back matter contains a visual index of the desert life seen throughout the story, challenging readers to a game of look-and-find. A section of satisfying facts about tumbleweeds is provided for the questions curious minds are likely to have about this nomadic plant.