Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN 9781786035561 £11.99
The sky is full of kites in Fivehills, to where David and his parents have just moved. David does not have one and the things he does have – books and toys – just don’t look quite right in the new house. Deciding to build his own kite, David remembers his grandpa’s mantra: “let’s see what we’ve already got. More often than not, we’ll find the answers inside”. So, requisitioning all sorts of items, David rushes out and up the hill to fly his newly made kite. Straight away he is accosted by well-wishing children eager to be of help to the new boy and novice kite-flyer. Within minutes they have each made changes to his kite, so that not only is it his no longer, but it does not fly either. Burying his head in his pillow in sheer misery, he is scratched by a feather – like his Grandpa’s lucky one and is inspired once more by the mantra. Soon he has created a new kite and this time it flies, soon joined in the sky by the kites of his new found friends.
This is a touching story about resilience, being true to yourself and your ideas and being able to fit in on your own terms. The text is full of rhythmic poetic descriptions such as ‘cloud-catching, tree-leaping whooshing Wind Wizard of a kite” which would be wonderful to explore with Y2. The illustrations, particularly the moving kites, convey the story well, but I personally found the inexpressive gashes for laughing mouths unappealing.
Sue Barrett