UCLan Publishing (5+) 9781915235985 (Hardback) Download activities and reading resources pack
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The child at the centre of the story feels small and low and is left out of kite-flying games by the town’s other children. Wawa, the little blue bird offers help and hope, guiding the child through a diverse world where there are all manner of sizes and shapes of plants, objects and creatures. Growing in confidence, the child returns to the town to make a kite of their own that can be flown high with pride and pleasure.
There is a lot for the reader to follow from entangled kite strings to the shells on the beach. The illustrations enrich the text and carry subtle messages around creativity, compassion and celebration. Colour is used to great effect with reds and yellows used to show the main character’s journey through the narrative and hinting at a hopeful ending. Skilful use of perspective and space help to highlight feelings and the book is rich in visual symbolism and cultural references allowing readers to find new details to delight in and that provide added depth on each reading. Bold, intricate and uplifting, this is an inspirational journey of having the courage to be ourselves.
Illustrator’s Video
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Yu Rong is a Chinese illustrator of children’s picture books, especially known for her use of papercutting artwork. Born in China, she first trained as a primary school teacher, then studied for a BA in Chinese Painting and Contemporary Art Design (Nanjing Normal University’s Art College) and an MA in Communication and Design (Royal College of Art, London). She now lives near Cambridge, UK. The Visible Sounds was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration in 2023.
I think 'Flying High' is a bit hard to understand. I didn't really like the illustrations as much as other books. There are too many pages and I think this fact would make a child less engaged with the story. However, the colours within the book were vibrant, and really eye-catching for young children. I would say this book would be for 5-7 year olds and I would rate it a 6/10.
Jennifer
Rebel Readers
Flying High was an amazing book! The illustrations were very detailed and I appreciated all the effort required to produce such memorable images. It is so well organized with all the different perspectives. Many of the other shortlisted books didn't exactly have the amount of variation in each page. I loved how the Chinese culture was portrayed and I would rate this book 7/10.
Ciarrai
Rebel Readers
I personally loved the book, I think it showed the loneliness children experience over insignificant things very well, and the illustrations were very bright and detailed, presenting the different emotions each page focused on incredibly.
Maja
Academy Book Gurus
Flying High was an excellent book I loved the inclusion of crafting and how to make a dragon kite at the beginning of the book. My favourite page was page 8, the group of children all flying their kites - it was a wonderful spectacle! I also like page 12, where one of the kids stomped on his kite. I liked this page because it was a powerful and impactful image! I would give this book 7/10 and would encourage everyone to read it.
Jasmine
Rebel Readers
I really like the two page art and the vibrant colors. The use of simple words are also beneficial for the readers this is aimed at. I really like how the main character is having a conversation with the bird. Another thing I liked was how it is set in a particular country. I think the opening pages where you have instructions on how to build a kite would be fascinating for younger children. The illustrations are amazing and I do think that they will help because the story may at times b e confusing because of the level of vocabulary used.
Harley
The WH shadowers
Flying High is a wonderful story about feeling different & being included. It is about a young boy who is smaller than the other children in his village, and one day when he flies his kite & the other children say he ruined their day, his bird best friend, Wawa, shows him that everyone is different. It is a beautiful story about diversity and I would recommend it to anyone that is upset because they feel different
Rory
Academy Book Gurus
Flying High is an inspiring book that delves into themes of ambition, resilience, and personal growth. The narrative follows the journey of a young boy and his bird wawa wasn’t a facing the challenges of pursuing their dreams. It offers a sense of hope to readers who may feel discouraged by life's obstacles.
Daniel
Academy Book Gurus
"This book is fantastic. It is full of interesting perspectives, pattern, colour, different media and symbolic references including kite-flying. I can relate to the theme of feeling small and unnoticed, also to some of the frustration felt by the boy. The illustrator portrays mood, emotions and movement well. The picture with the grandparents hints at ancestors and spirituality. There is depth in this book and it has many layers." [Chang’e (嫦娥) is the Chinese goddess of the moon, best known for stealing an elixir of immortality from her husband, Hou Yi. Her story is celebrated as part of the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. https://mythopedia.com/topics/chang-e]
Lami
The CCG Shadowers
Flying high is a good colourful book. It has a lot of pages but not too many words. I would recommend it to years 3s and 4s because it has colours and lots of pages and not too many words so I think that is middle age people. I like this book and what I would change about it is it should have less pages
Norah
Barrow Bookworms
This book tells the story of the difficulties children face when they are not accepted by their peers. It can be a difficult time to navigate as a young child and even as we get older. It celebrates how we can be different, unique and beautiful just like the different and uniqueness of nature – we should celebrate our differences and not hide away. The colours and illustrations used when the festival is introduced really capture the essence of a festival – the bright, busy and beautiful!
Mrs Whittaker
The WH shadowers
Flying High by Cu Wenxuan and Yu Rong ‘Flying High’ is an illustrated book about a child who feels left out because of their height and identity. What is so special about the illustrations? The illustrations in this book are quite big and colourful, and I think they represent what the narrator is thinking or what they see through their eyes in that moment, also while describing it. What I think is good about it How the narrator expresses their thoughts and feelings through not only words, but also through the use of words. I feel like it gives me a description of it to help me imagine what it would be like to be in the narrator’s shoes. What I think could be better How the narrator uses simple sentences and could have more of a description of how it feels to be left out like they are in the storyline.
Kyla
KSA Book Wolves