Ready to Soar

by Cori Doerrfeld (Author) Cori Doerrfeld (Illustrator)

Ready to Soar
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Rabbit Listened, a story of learning to stay true to yourself, rather than what others want you to be.

Riley made a paper airplane and couldn't wait to let it soar. But just before the plane could take off--SQUAWK. An eagle swoops in and insists Riley's plane could never fly. It's much too small. So Riley makes it bigger! But just as this bigger paper airplane is ready to go, a parrot squawks that the plane is way too boring to fly. So Riley makes it fancier! Bird after bird offers advice, and Riley tries making the airplane faster longer, taller, and slimmer. When the plane crashes to the ground after all these changes, Riley finally meets a more supportive friend . . . and rediscovers the joy and wonder of soaring.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus Reviews

A feathered cast of flight experts can’t lift one up as high as a friend.

Publishers Weekly

"Everybody's a critic" the saying goes, and young Riley, this book's pale-skinned child protagonist, discovers that it's all too true. Decked out in a jaunty aviator's hat and scarf, and having assiduously followed instructions for creating a paper airplane, Riley is just about to send it soaring ("3... 2... 1...") when a bald eagle zooms in. "STOP!" it shouts, "I rule the sky because I'm large and in change. Trust me, it needs to be bigger!" Riley dutifully follows the advice, only to have other imposing avian species, all rendered in digital chalk on mostly white backgrounds, insist that the plane be "fancier," "faster," and so forth. Riley is left thoroughly discombobulated and ready to head in a new direction when yet another bird appears. But this one offers encouragement instead of critique: "I think there's nothing cooler than celebrating when someone else takes off!" This time, the countdown results in not only a successful flight but a lovely new friendship. Employing narrative and visual rhythms similar to The Rabbit Listened, Doerrfeld once again considers the process of finding one's way, only this time, explores heeding voices--inner and otherwise--that say, "WOO! You got this." Ages 3-5. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"The repeating countdown refrain and consistent interruptions are surefire crowd pleasers for a read-aloud delight." —Kirkus

"Employing narrative and visual rhythms similar to The Rabbit Listened, Doerrfeld once again considers the process of finding one's way, only this time, explores heeding voices—inner and otherwise—that say, 'WOO! You got this'." —Publishers Weekly
Cori Doerrfeld
Cori Doerrfeld illustrated the acclaimed picture book The Rabbit Listened, as well as popular books like Little Bunny Foo Foo: The Real Story and The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593696729
Lexile Measure
470
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Dial Books
Publication date
March 20, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002040 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Birds
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Library of Congress categories
Birds
Friendship
Picture books
Flight
Animal fiction
Encouragement

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