Flying Lessons - Hardcover

Gilbert Ford (www.gilbertford.com) has provided illustrations for many newspapers and magazines. He also created the jacket for The Name of This Book Is Secretby Pseudonymous Bosch. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

PreSchool-Grade 1—A story about celebrating differences and embracing one's uniqueness. A flock of doves has always done things a certain way, from flying to cooing to bathing. When a passenger airplane joins the birds, it disrupts their pattern of behavior with its inability to adapt. Fed up, they ask the plane to leave. However, when an early winter arrives, the plane comes in the nick of time and helps the doves fly south in the comfort of its cabin. Sherbet pinks and oranges meld seamlessly into various shades of blue, and while the renderings of the aircraft bent over worms and curled in trees look stilted, they effectively demonstrate how out of place it is in the world of birds. It is when stretched out, with the birds buckled into their seats, that the vehicle looks happiest. Simple wording in combination with whimsical, '50s cartoon-style illustrations make for an entertaining read-aloud.—Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD
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