Up With Birds! - Softcover

John Yeoman and Quentin Blake's previous collaborations include The Bear's Water Picnic, The Bear's Winter House, The Heron and the Crane, Our Village, and The Wild Washerwoman. Best known for his Roald Dahl illustrations, Quentin Blake has won the Whitbread Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, and the Emil/Kurt Maschler Award, among numerous others.

How did birds learn to fly? According to Yeoman, they used to be earthbound. A nuisance in town, birds slowed traffic on the roads and pecked at passing bicycle tires. Looking for faster transportation, Mr. Fflyte, a human, attempts to invent winged-bicycle flying machines for himself and his family. Fascinated birds watch the Fflytes before grabbing helium-balloon strings in their beaks and joining the Fflytes aloft. After losing his balloon, a panicky sparrow flaps his wings and discovers that he can fly. Birds joyfully take to the skies, leaving the uncluttered roads to people. A little longer than most picture book texts, this witty, original pourqoui tale is a captivating story, particularly in combination with Blake’s free-spirited and often amusing ink-and-watercolor artwork. The expressive faces of people and birds make every page a pleasure, but the most memorable scenes are those depicting the characters’ first flights. An inviting flight of fancy, this brightly illustrated picture book is a pleasure to read aloud. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan