Windy Washing Day by Yvonne Low, Ill. by Kate Talbot

This delightful smaller picture book for young children is full of vivid colour, joy and imagination. The front cover perfectly captures the vibrancy of the story and the endpapers are a visual treat with the animals hidden amongst the colourful foliage on the front and at the back the same animals appear with some unusual additions.

When the young child begins to hang out the washing, little do they know that the wind will take them and the washing on a marvellous journey to the zoo next door. Here all the animals are overjoyed to find an array of clothing to wear but there are not enough items to share and things become chaotic. It is up to a wise monkey to save the day and with some creative help makes sure the washing arrives home safely.

With the clever rhyme complemented by lively, appealing and detailed digital illustrations, this book is a joy to read aloud.

The animals were chasing one another high and low.
There was trouble,
there was chaos,
there was nowhere safe to go.

The use of alliteration, onomatopoeia and an abundance of verbs showcasing the fast pace of the engaging narrative, will make this book a firm favourite of younger readers.

Teacher Notes available: Windy-Washing-Day.teacher-notes.28-Aug-2025.pdf

Themes: Weather, Washing, Imagination, Zoo Animals, Sharing, Humour.

Kathryn Beilby