Teaching Eddie to Fly

PreS-Gr 1–Ernest the bear decides to teach Eddie, an ostrich, how to fly when he finds out that his friend travels everywhere on foot. Ernest lectures his buddy on the basic mechanics of flight, but Eddie simply sticks his head in the sand in denial. Further attempts, such as launching Eddie from a hot air balloon, hoisting him off a diving board, and building him long, spindly walking sticks (“flying aids”), result in equally hilarious results. When Ernest’s feet begin to ache on the long journey home, Eddie’s true prowess is revealed when he runs as fast as other birds fly. Spare text and intricate pastel illustrations are perfectly in sync, page for page. Eddie never once breaks into a sweat despite repeated blunders in the attempt to fly; his mild-mannered expression, while equipped with protective helmet and knee pads, is as comical as it is endearing. Children will note and appreciate that he never loses hope no matter how strenuous the attempt to launch himself off the ground. When Ernest asks other birds how they learned, it becomes apparent that Eddie is not alone; neither a penguin, a parrot, or a kiwi (the least recognizable of the flock) can fly either. The resounding message is that not every bird is equipped with the same traits, just as not every child navigates life with the same basic abilities.