Member Reviews
Ever since reading Red is Best to my son when he was little, Kathy Stinson was a favourite author of ours. Now I am reading her books to my his children and I can't wait to get a physical copy of this book to read to them. Zora really wants to catch a squirrel but is just not fast enough. Maybe if I can fly, Zora thinks. Tully, the cat, relaxing in the tree just keeps saying, "Dogs can't fly", that is until a friend is in danger.
The Dog Who Wanted to Fly is a sweet story about pursuing dreams and friendship. Zora does not give up trying to fly, even though every attempt ends up with her flopped on the ground. When flying really matters, Zora soars through the air. The illustrations in this book are amazing. Brandon James Scott did an amazing job showing movement and expression in the pictures. Of course the important thing for me is the lesson taught here, do not give up on your dreams. Even the impossible can be possible. As well, the lesson that even though Tully was not very encouraging, friendship wins out when Zora is finally able to "fly" when she needs to help her friend. Pick up a copy of The Dog Who Wanted to Fly and remind our children to try even when it seems impossible and persevere. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Prolific Canadian children’s book author Kathy Stinson has followed the trend of dog/cat books this spring with her newest picture book The Dog Who Wanted to Fly/
Zora really wants to chase a squirrel but is just not fast enough. She thinks, if she can fly she can catch the squirrel. In typical cat form, Tully, lounging in the tree, confidently declares “Dogs can’t fly” Zora and Tully learn that dogs actually can fly, given the right motivation, like helping out a friend.
The Dog Who Wanted to Fly is a sweet story about pursuing dreams and friendship. What makes this story especially wonderful is the vibrant art by Brandon James Scott. The illustrations fly off the pages. There is so much movement and vitality in the art, readers will be drawn right in and will stick around for the fun little story. It’s important to remind children they can do anything. So often they are told not to do things or they can’t do things so having stories that affirm for them they can do anything, even if it seems impossible, is so very important. We forget the necessary role risky play plays in our children’s development so books like The Dog Who Wanted to Fly remind our children to try and persevere.
I must have this book for my collection. This dog loving heart is just crying AHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh. Zora want to fly. She wants to catch that dang squirrel. But nothing works. This book is just so darn cute. I want more Zora stories. The book is simple in the best of ways. The chitchitchit of the squirrels and the action verbs of Zora would make this a fun book to act out in Story time. A new beloved book for this reader.
The Dog Who Wanted to Fly is for every dog out there that is tormented by the neighborhood squirrel. It is also for kids who will laugh with Zora as she attempts to fly and catch that squirrel. In the end, both will see that anything is possible when you keep on trying and believe in yourself. This story will make a fun read aloud and is great for kids of all ages.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley to review.
Short, sweet picture book about a dog who wants to fly and doesn’t give up on his goals to do so. The story seemed like it wasn’t fully developed and could have been expanded upon some. The illustrations are fantastic.
Fun book for the early grades.
Zora is a dog who wants to fly. She wants to fly so she can catch a squirrel, which I guess is a reasonable goal for a dog. So she tries different methods to get herself airborne. Not much works, until she's faced with actually needing to fly to help a friend.
I'm not sure if the friend got into trouble on purpose, just to motivate Zora to do what she did (the nature of the creature in question makes me wonder). The outcome is a little abrupt, and at first I was a little surprised that the book had ended. Once the squirrel realizes Zora can "fly" and potentially reach it, it goes quiet, stopping its continual "chitterchitterchitter" that it did throughout the story.
The illustrations are interesting. I can't quite tell what medium they are (digital painting, maybe?) but the settings are pretty and the animals' expressions are lively. (In contrast, the few humans in the book simply have black dots for eyes, which leaves the really animated facial expressions to the animals.)
Overall, it's a cute story about perseverance. And perhaps a cautionary tale for squirrels.
Cute story, but could use more substance. The story arc is basically the title. The dog wanted to fly but his reason wasn't good enough and nothing seemed to work. Until he had a big enough reason to fly.
Thank you to Annick Press Ltd. and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Dog Who Wanted to Fly by Kathy Stinson was everything I hoped it would be. As a dog mom to two golden retrievers, I instantly fell in love with Zora and her quest to learn to fly (so she could catch her pesky nemesis - the squirrel!!). My youngest golden, Atticus, is always on the lookout for squirrels so our family can definitely relate to the premise of this cute story!
The illustrations were beautiful and perfectly fit the personality of all the characters. The story was creative and lasted just long enough to hold a child's attention. It was cute watching Zora think of ideas and try to execute learning to fly so she could catch the squirrel. I also liked that it taught a lesson that you should always keep trying and even if you don't reach the goal you first set out to achieve, you can still do something good with hard work and perseverance.
I will definitely be buying this for my daughter's library when this is published! So glad I had the opportunity to review this!
I love this book, especially the illustrations. Zora, a loveable dog, has personality plus. She is quite a character. Her dream is to fly so she can catch the pesky squirrel that keeps taunting her in her backyard. The squirrel knows just how to press Zora's buttons and Zora wants to rise to the occasion (literally) to teach that scallywag a lesson.
Tully, a skeptical cat, discourages Zora and tells her that there is no way that dogs can possibly fly. Zora tries hard to prove Tully wrong. She flaps her ears and wiggles her tail... no... fail. She tries to obtain liftoff by pouncing on an empty teeter-totter... nope, and then she grabs an umbrella and tries to soar through the sky like the kite she sees high up in the heavens... oh nooo... human intervention. She spots a huge heavy airplane zooming along with ease and lays on her stomach, stretches out her legs and whispers, "Up! Up! Up!".... uh uh. She's doomed to remain earth-bound. Totally discouraged in her defeats she trudges back to her doghouse downhearted and sad. Is there any hope that her dream of flying can come true?
Zora picks up her ears when she hears a desperate cry for help from Tully who is stranded high up in a tree. Instantly "Zora's everything tingled! " Another cry calls her into action and Zora is off to the rescue but can she take flight to do so?
This delightful story of perseverance and heart is embedded in almost animated illustrations of the highest quality. They are expressive and full of action visually encouraging the reader to never give up dreaming. My all time favourite is when Zora is sprawled out under the shadow of a huge airplane which is flying overhead and she is trying to levitate. I highly recommend this book with it's positive message and pleasing humour. Dream on and dream BIG!
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this title. The story was very simple... a dog wanted to fly.
The illustrations were very cute, the story was ok, nothing great. I am still trying to figure out the relevance of the squirrel.
Lol! Funny story! No way to relay the story without giving away the ending! I love Zora! The littles will enjoy this story about a dog wanting to fly in order to catch an annoying squirrel! The illustrations are so cute and funny!
In The Dog Who Wanted to Fly, Zora, the dog, has a dream to fly although her friends told her no way. Zora was sure with a little practice that she could——-she flapped her ears, wagged her tail, but just crashes. Zora tried the teeter-totter, a picnic umbrella, but nothing worked to hep her catch the squirrel. She just didn’t understand since she could do other tricks like jumping, shake a paw, roll over, but still couldn’t fly. Just when she was about to give up, she heard Tully, the cat, was in danger. Zora’s whole body tingled and she flew and caught
Tully as she fell from the tree. Zora showed anything is possible if you believe.
This book is a great story of determination. A lesson that you are only limited by the restrictions you place on yourself. I really enjoyed this children’s book.
The Dog Who Wanted to Fly by Kathy Stinson is an entertaining and funny book about never giving up. Which is beautifully illustrated to enhance the story line. Zora believes she can learn to fly, a freedom she has never experienced. Read the book to enjoy this wonderful story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for the ARC,
Zora, the dog wants to fly. Squirrel says it will never happen, but Zora tries anyhow. Eventually, she learns that she can fly "sort" of. A cute read about never giving up.
The relationship between neighborhood animals can be so entertaining. My guess is Stinson has been inspired by her share of silly behavior out her back door!
In this story, Zora the dog wants nothing more than to catch that pesky squirrel. She tries everything she can think of, still the squirrel chatters on while both the cat and the squirrel watch from above. “That is because...” the cat explains, “dogs can’t fly.”
Now, Zora is determined to show them, yes she CAN fly! But it’s not until Tully the cat is in serious trouble that Zora learns how to really fly through the air.
As an animal lover, it’s hard not to love this adorable story!
Thank you to Annick Press and NetGalley for this adorable picture book!
This will be featured on my blog December 5, 2018.
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ARC Copy...expressive and almost impression in style-touch illustrations coupled with the warm yet funny narrative of a dog who never give up on her attempts/dreams to fly.
Zora the dog is determined that one day she will catch a squirrel. Especially if she can just learn to fly. Though Zora doesn't quite get the hang of flight, when her pal, cat Tully, gets stuck up in a tree, Zora manages to jump just high enough to prove to herself that one day, she just might get that pesky squirrel...
Great art that really captures the lovable goofiness of a determined dog.
A story about a dog that wants to fly into a tree and catch a squirrel ends up becoming a hero in his own way.
I found the hook to be lackluster. Some of the descriptors were riveting (for a kids book) and my voice arced with excitement as I read to my daughter, but the storyline just didn't come together for me. The dog saved the day and then *poof* it's over... Very unexpected. I even said "that's it, I guess," with my daughter's response being "...oh." and she's only 3.
Such a cute story about trying your best always. You never know what you are capable of when you need to do something so never give up. Loved the illustration. one I would share with my own granddaughter