A no-account little tornado comes twirling along. It means no great harm, but for the animals in the shadow of Barefoot Mountain life will never be the same. A 400pound hog finds a wind-tossed harmonica and learns to play it. Emperor Floyd, a wild rooster, is frightened into insomnia and keeps everyone awake by crowing in the middle of the night. Stumblefrog discovers a sack of Mexican jumping beans left in the path of the twister, and guess what happens?

Most curious of all, the storm drops a "strange little animal, all pink skin and bones, lying in a heap against a hollow log." Its fur or feathers have been plucked clean by the tornado, and no one can guess what nature of odd animal the "Windblown Child" is. Everyone is in for a huge and wondrous surprise.

In these six broad comedies, Newbery Medal winner Sid Fleischman again proves himself to be a wizard of the American tall tale.

Children's Books 2000-NY Public Lib.