Description
A beautifully illustrated story of connection and long-distance friendship from the author-illustrator team behind the much-loved picture book The Snow Lion.
“Helmore’s spare, expressive text gives the children’s close friendship the respect it deserves in this heartfelt story of love, separation, and reconnection.” —Booklist
Mia and Ben are the very best of friends. They live side by side at the edge of a great, wide lake and together they sail, and swing, and sing. But the thing they love the most is making paper planes. They dream of one day being able to make a plane that will fly all the way across the lake, and their planes become more and more intricate.
But one day: terrible news. Ben’s family is moving far, far away. How can Mia and Ben stay best friends if they are so far apart? And how will they ever realize their dream of making a plane that can fly across their lake?
Jim Helmore’s moving, lyrical story blends with Richard Jones’ captivating art for a sensitive exploration of emotions surrounding friendship, connection, and loss. Ideal for social emotional learning collections and for children experiencing separation issues.
Reviews
“Helmore’s spare, expressive text gives the children’s close friendship the respect it deserves in this heartfelt story of love, separation, and reconnection….handsome illustrations… A quiet, comforting picture book that will resonate with its audience.” —Booklist
“Parents and educators will especially appreciate how the protagonists’ feelings are depicted in a realistic and convincing manner—and the validation that sadness and anger are OK. The book’s inspiring ending makes it a good resource for children experiencing separation issues…. A beautiful and sensitive treatment of a common childhood experience.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Helmore modulates emotions well… Expansive and warm with emotion, Jones’s illustrations lend dreamy poignancy to Helmore’s straightforward prose. A familiar childhood challenge surmounted with well-pitched emotional resonance from the creators of The Snow Lion.” —Publishers Weekly
“Pair this story with Libby Gleeson’s Half a World Away for group sharing about ways to deal with separation and other disappointments.” —School Library Journal
“A meditative, uplifting tale about imagination, resourcefulness and new beginnings that’s sure to inspire an uptick in paper-airplane making.” —BookPage
“The illustrations are beautifully done and help captivate the reader while bringing the magic of the story to life. This is a touching tale that extends well beyond the recommended age level.” —School Library Connection
More Details
F&P: M, Gr 2, Genre RF
Lexile: AD580L
Themes: Connections, Grief, Friendship, Moving Away
BISAC 1: JUV039060 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship
BISAC 2: JUV039050 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
BISAC 3: JUV051000 JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play
