Windy Washing Day

Windy Washing Day by Yvonne Low, illustrated by Kate Talbot (MidnightSun Publishing 2025) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN: 9781922858672 

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

It's a dry, sunny day and perfect for hanging out the laundry.

But what happens when an unexpected wind pulls the washing off the line and carries it next door - to the zoo!

Will the animals give up their newfound clothes, and can all the washing be returned safely?

Yvonne Low's Windy Washing Day is a delightfully absurd and energetic tale about a gust of wind, snapping pegs, and washing that goes astray! It has been written in a fun-to-read-out-loud rhyming text and has a constantly shifting (dancing) rhythm - with an occasionally off-kilter metre - which made me imagine that it too had got swept up into the wind! 

The responsible and concerned young child (the narrator of this story) who valiantly goes after Mum's washing, is like a little (unsung) hero. This child, along with the family dog, makes use of some towels caught in a puff of wind and parachute over the fence into the zoo in pursuit of the washing - determined to recover and return it back home. No matter what.

The animals delight in the 'runaway' washing and preen and parade about in their new attire. However, when more animals arrive to find that they've missed out - because there aren't enough items to go around - a tug-of-war begins!

The animals were chasing one another high and low.

There was trouble, there was chaos, there was nowhere safe to go. 

Then just as the retrieval of the washing seems doomed, the young child, with the help of Wise Monkey, Pelican and Toucan, return the washing home again. 

I must admit to giggling at the part where mum discovers her completely dishevelled washing and the poor old family dog takes the blame - all because of her 'guilty' expression! 

(It reminded me of a dog I once knew - who assumed this look of guilt whenever anything went wrong in the household - guilty or not!)  

Kate Talbot's bright and lively illustrations, bounce along with the text. Kids will adore seeing the hilarious assortment of animals trying on and scrapping over the washing items. 

The end papers are gorgeous. Lush jungle-like settings with the eyes of various animals peeping out through the foliage - which children will enjoy pointing out and identifying.

This entertaining and adventuresome picture book neatly concludes with some sage advice for future windy washing days! Suitable for children aged 3 – 8 years.