This flies high.
Sometimes parents need to be the wind beneath our wings.
This story opens with a young, tan-skinned protagonist with short brown hair making a pair of large butterfly wings (and a pair of antennae) so that they can pretend to fly. Leaving home, the protagonist wanders a verdant landscape, twirling and frolicing. Playtime is cut short, however, when a group of children tease the protagonist and try to pull off the wings. Frustrated, the child heads home to fume in bed. They are cheered up by their father, and the two repair and re-create the butterfly costume so that the child might fly again. Showing the bullies that they don’t care about their opinions, the butterfly child dances free, finding a friend along the way. The story uses spare language and lush illustrations to capture the joys (and societal pressures) that result from beating one’s own drum. The details of the acrylic illustrations may muddy in large group storytimes, but small groups and individual readers will find a strong message in the book’s pages. The bullies are male-presenting, and the only child to offer acceptance is female-presenting, but the father’s reaffirming role takes some of the sting out of the stereotypical gender roles presented. The book may tread familiar ground, but it does it so stylishly that many readers will be overjoyed. Characters are racially diverse; the child who befriends the protagonist is brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This flies high. (Picture book. 8-10)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-302155-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
Charming but elusive.
Although John communicates only by whistling, he finds acceptance at home, admiration and friendship at school, and true love.
That seems to be what this sweet story is about, although at the end, when he thinks he’s lost the girl who has caught his eye, he finds his voice—so perhaps it’s a story of late blooming rather than genuine acceptance of differences. Wimmer’s curving, elongated figures are accentuated by the design choice to make this nearly square book open vertically rather than horizontally, awkward to hold. This is another difference to accept. Collaged-in bits of musical scores weave among the figures, suggesting John’s thoughts; when he speaks, the notes appear in speech bubbles. The slightly surreal art complements this allegorical tale, a wordy picture book for older readers. There is one jarring note, perhaps introduced in the translation from Spanish. John’s friend Taleb, who communicates first through his art, because he doesn’t yet speak the language of the country, “stop[s] drawing immediately” when John is angry about their having feelings for the same girl, though they remain friends. But more than a new translation of the words will be necessary for this love story to find an American audience.
Charming but elusive. (Picture book. 8-10)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2013
ISBN: 9788415784128
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
Ultimately less than the sum of its parts, this earnest effort may disappoint rather than enchant.
Losure has chosen a popular topic—witches—for her first work of fiction.
Nettle and Bracken, two young witches, are the main characters. The apparently orphaned cousins discover the human world when a magical disaster rends the veil that protects their valley. Tricked into searching for a solution (and a treasured magical artifact) by a renegade member of their coven, the two discover more than they bargained for on their journey. A friendly farmer and an oddly engaging talking raccoon offer assistance and some humor, while a pair of slightly befuddled elderly ladies winds up playing an unexpectedly bittersweet role in the adventure. Overall, however, the human characters, like the girls’ fellow witches, are sketchily drawn and fail to generate much interest. The format also poses some challenges, as fantasy fans have come to expect a bit more action and drama than they’ll find in the straightforward storyline, while chapter-book readers could feel overwhelmed by the relatively lengthy text, lack of illustration and sophisticated vocabulary. The somewhat open-ended conclusion could likewise cause confusion or frustration.
Ultimately less than the sum of its parts, this earnest effort may disappoint rather than enchant. (Fantasy. 8-10)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3160-1
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
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