Fly! - by Mark Teague (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mama bird wants Baby bird to learn to fly so he can migrate with the rest of the flock, but Baby bird would rather go by hot air balloon or car, instead.

Book Synopsis

"Teague proves that a picture can be worth a thousand words--and almost as many laughs." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Engaging illustrations and the baby bird's wild ideas will entertain audiences of all ages." --Booklist (starred review)

"Funny, feathery finesse." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Mama bird thinks it's time for Baby bird's first flight, but Baby bird has other ideas in this humorous wordless picture book from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Mark Teague.

It's a big day up in the tree that Mama bird shares with her baby. Mama bird thinks Baby bird is finally ready to leave the nest and learn to fly so he can migrate south with the rest of their flock. But Baby bird isn't so sure. Can't his mother keep bringing him worms in their nest? Can't he migrate in a hot air balloon instead? Or perhaps a car?

This silly wordless picture book will keep young readers giggling as Baby bird figures out that he must flap his wings and learn to fly--whether he likes it or not!

Review Quotes

Many picture books feature young birds who refuse to fly, but Teague (Felipe and Claudette) takes the genre to new heights with this story. Wordless it may be, but there's plenty of dialogue between the story's petulant robin fledging and its relatively patient mother, all conveyed via balloons filled with spot illustrations. The humor arises from the tension between Teague's elegant, substantial-looking acrylic images and the parent-offspring bickering that readers can hear instantly and vividly in their minds. When the mom communicates to her child that all birds fly, her pictorial balloon suggests a bevy of graceful, soaring species. The child's unflappable response? A series of illustrations show it laughingly opting instead for aerial transit via hot air balloon, hang glider, plane, and superhero cape. Countering the mother's suggestion that the autumn migration will require flight, the wee bird invokes the idea of a road trip via bicycle, skateboard, or red convertible. Finally, the baby bird does fly--it takes a reminder that becoming an owl's dinner is a real possibility--and the story ends with a reconciliatory cuddle that needs no further elaboration. Teague proves that a picture can be worth a thousand words--and almost as many laughs. Ages up to 8. (Sept.)--Publishers Weekly **STARRED REVIEW** "June 3, 2019"

About the Author

Mark Teague is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include Fly!, King Kong's Cousin, We Are Going to Be Pals!, You Are Not Sleepy!, and The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm. He is also the illustrator of Cat Dog, written by Mem Fox; the Bat, Cat & Rat series, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning second book Vacation, written by Ame Dyckman; and the New York Times bestselling How Do Dinosaurs...? series, written by Jane Yolen.