Learning to Fly by Sebastian Meschenmoser is a charming picture book about a man who finds a penguin who tells the man that he has been flying, but penguins don’t fly.  The man takes in the penguin and starts to test whether he is aerodynamic enough to fly and different forms of propulsion.  The ending is about the power of believing in yourself.  The line drawings with their subtle touches of color enhance the story, often the humor is carried by the illustrations alone.  Read this to small groups or with a child in your lap.  The book is small and the illustrations will not project well to an audience. 

This is a lovely book.  Share it with children and show them that they should follow their dreams and believe in themselves. 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo has really divided that children’s literature community into those who adore it and those who strongly dislike it.  When I read and heard that people disliked it, I had to get a copy of my own to read.  I don’t mind sentimentality in books, enjoy doll books in general, and thought I would probably love it.

Me?  I really, really dislike the book.  Yes, the ending touched me.  But I still felt cheated and manipulated by the time I finished.  I didn’t mind that Edward was a doll without a heart, without love, but I disliked the fact that even by the end I didn’t feel like he really GOT it.   He still felt that love was something that was given to him and then he would return it.  And the ending did nothing to change his view at all.

This was one that I looked forward to.  But it is one that you must try for yourself.  Which side of the debate do you fall on?