Weatherboy

In a melancholy story translated from the Dutch, a boy with flyaway orange hair is born with the ability to control the weather based on his temperament. "Weatherboy," as he is known in his village, grows weary of his gift once demands from people around him become too overwhelming: "Heat waves, rainbows, thunder, lightning, hail, storm, fog... Everyone wanted something from him and they all wanted something different." Devos's moody art depicts the covetous masses as menacing, clownlike figures, who drive Weatherboy to seek solitude in a house built in the ropey arms of a tree, his unhappiness mooring the world in darkness and snow. When another outlier, Skateboy, nicknamed for his love of ice skating, comes to Weatherboy's door, the two become fast friends, and the warmth of their friendship causes the world to begin to thaw and makes Weatherboy worry that his new friend will be unhappy. Van Hest touches on an individual's power to influence his or her environment and being true to one's identity, yet the abrupt conclusion leaves unresolved Weatherboy's friendship concerns and relationship with the world at large. Ages 5%E2%80%937. (Mar.)