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Table of Contents
About The Book
“Delightfully quirky.” —Kirkus Reviews
Perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, this irresistible debut novel combines plucky humor and a whole lot of heart in a story about the true meaning of family.
Sometimes flying means keeping your feet on the ground…
Born in a dismal room in a pet store, Alastair the African grey parrot dreams of escape to bluer skies. He’d like nothing more than to fly away to a palm tree with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land.
In between anxiously plucking his feathers, eating a few books, and finding his own poetic voice, Alastair plots his way to a family reunion. But soon he’s forced to choose between the life he’s always dreamed of and admitting the truth: that sometimes, the bravest adventure is in letting go.
Perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, this irresistible debut novel combines plucky humor and a whole lot of heart in a story about the true meaning of family.
Sometimes flying means keeping your feet on the ground…
Born in a dismal room in a pet store, Alastair the African grey parrot dreams of escape to bluer skies. He’d like nothing more than to fly away to a palm tree with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land.
In between anxiously plucking his feathers, eating a few books, and finding his own poetic voice, Alastair plots his way to a family reunion. But soon he’s forced to choose between the life he’s always dreamed of and admitting the truth: that sometimes, the bravest adventure is in letting go.
Product Details
- Publisher: Aladdin (February 12, 2019)
- Length: 384 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534421011
- Grades: 3 - 7
- Ages: 8 - 12
- Lexile ® 680L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
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Raves and Reviews
A Parents' Choice Silver Award Winner
"Warmhearted, delightfully quirky, and believable." —Kirkus Reviews
"Reminiscent of The One and Only Ivan’s storytelling, Leonardo has crafted a tale that will have readers rooting for each character . . . A witty animal-centered story that will remind readers that families come in many shapes and sizes." —School Library Journal
"This is a book about animals, friendship, and love, but mostly about how everyone needs to be loved and needed, whether they are an animal or a human." —School Library Connection
Awards and Honors
- Magnolia Book Award Nominee (MS)
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Simple Art of Flying eBook 9781534421011
- Author Photo (jpg): Cory Leonardo Photograph © Stephanie DeMott(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit