Learning to fly symbolizes learning to try new things in these two fabulous new picture books!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pure joy and the power of community radiate from this sweet picture book about a young Black girl’s perseverance and confidence in following her double Dutch dreams.
Africa’s grandmother was a double Dutch legend, and Africa knows she can become the same. Her brother scoffs when she signs up for a double Dutch competition, though—how can she hope to compete when she’s never done it before? But Africa has all the tools she needs: memories of her grandmother, her bestie Bianca’s dance moves, her friend Omar’s rhythm, and her classmates’ Mary Mack timing and cartwheels.
If Africa can pull everything together to jump some winning moves, she might just fly, but it’s the birthmark in the shape of her name that tells her she’s always been a winner.
REVIEW
Africa, a young girl with a birthmark shaped like her name, wants to enter an upcoming double Dutch competition. The problem? She's never done double Dutch in her whole life. When she announces to her family, her intention to enter, her brother points out the difficulty in attempting to do something she has never tried. Africa's determination leads her to try to teach herself, when that doesn't work so well, she seeks help from her friends. While none of her friends have done double Dutch either, they do have some great skills to teach her; after learning how to jitter, jive, bounce, step, hand clap, cartwheel and somersault, will Africa be able to double Dutch? Being willing to try something new is an attitude that many people, adults and children alike, are reluctant to do. It was fun to watch Africa's efforts to to try something that sounded interesting to her, despite the obstacles in her way. In her attempts to learn how to double Dutch, Africa learns how to spread her 'wings' and 'fly', showing the world what she's made of. Cunha's pink-cheeked characters while created digitally have so much texture to them they almost pop off the page. An inspiring story of hope and determination in pursuit of a goal.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López’s highly anticipated companion to their #1 New York Times bestseller The Day You Begin illuminates the power in each of us to face challenges with confidence.
On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their grandmother’s advice: “Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing. Somebody somewhere at some point was just as bored you are now.” And before they know it, their imaginations lift them up and out of their boredom. Then, on a day full of quarrels, it’s time for a trip outside their minds again, and they are able to leave their anger behind. This precious skill, their grandmother tells them, harkens back to the days long before they were born, when their ancestors showed the world the strength and resilience of their beautiful and brilliant minds. Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael Lopez’s dazzling art celebrate the extraordinary ability to lift ourselves up and imagine a better world.
REVIEW
Inspired by Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly, Jacqueline Woodson's The Year We Learned to Fly follows a sister and brother facing challenges of various kinds with the wise counsel of their grandmother. The first challenge they run into is having to stay inside because of nasty weather. Their grandmother reminds them, "Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours" to overcome their boredom. Using their imaginations the children pretend they are flying over the city in beautiful weather. Next they must face tension and arguments over chores, a lonely apartment, moving to a new neighborhood where they aren't welcomed at first. With every challenge their grandmother reminds them of the way their ancestors overcame adversity and learned to use their 'beautiful and brilliant minds' to fly. Lopez's gorgeous illustrations complement Woodson's beautiful woods so well it's amazing. I highly recommend this inspiring reminder that obstacles and challenges can be overcome if we don't give up or give in and learn to fly.
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