The illustrations weren't consistent. Were they done by the author and a child? Some were very detailed, pretty, and realistic. Others weren't. I thought the vocabulary was high enough for the reader to learn some new words. I also liked the layout of the sentences on the pages.

Review: The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly by Harker Jones

The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly is a sweet and uplifting story about overcoming fear and finding the courage to soar.

I think this book is best suited for elementary-aged kids who are able to sit through longer stories and read more independently. My younger ones had a harder time staying engaged all the way through, but older children will likely enjoy and relate to the message.

This book has cute illustrations and the story line is rather cute, but it’s a bit advanced for the intended audience. It’s very wordy and my daughter lost interest in it fairly quickly because of the advanced vocabulary that she didn’t understand.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A fun read for kids about a bird who is scared to fly.

This shows us a sparrow, born in the main square of Siena, Italy, who is scared of the loud noises – his birth coinciding with what he thinks is thunder not helping there – and afraid to fly. Through encouragement – and teasing, and being thrown in at the deep end – he might just make it. But can we be certain of that?

Well yes we can, for this is that kind of story. However, it's done with a vocabulary and length far removed from the material's ideal target audience, which ruins the whole thing. A distant lake is described as "iolite", for one thing – since when did that word drop in primary school matter? And surely the narrative can only please, advise and reassure the youngest. No, this has some reasonable artwork (the sparrow siblings separated by cute little hats or scarves, etc) but its wordiness shows a real problem with it being really useable.

Not sure this is a young children's books unless an adult is reading it. All the illustrations are wonderful and depict the story perfectly. Heart warming story about a bird family in Italy and what it is like for the babies to grow up and leave the nest. Being afraid is something all children experience and this shows that asking for help is not a weakness or bad thing. Happy ending good story

Rating: 2 - 2.5 stars

-Positive Content-

▪ The writing style is poetic, but a bit advanced for a young child, and would be need to be read aloud/explained by an adult as there are several uncommonly used English and Italian words.

▪ The illustrations of the family of birds were very cute!

-Negative Content-

▪ Wine and champagne are mentioned a couple of times, and there is a single page that shows a champagne bottle being opened.

(I don't think the author meant it to necessarily encourage alcohol and drinking, but showing that it was typical for Italy, I guess.)

I don't drink alcohol due to my personal convictions, and feel it would've better left out, as to not normalize drinking as being a good thing to children. Drinking alcohol is an addictive and dangerous choice.

Other than the one thing above I liked this book, but due to my sincere personal convictions I honestly can't recommend it.

Many thanks to Books Go Social Publishing for the complimentary e-book copy I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly, written by Harker Jones and illustrated by Sara Angus, is a book that can either be read by an early reader or enjoyed by families who love to read aloud together. No matter which way it's read, readers will learn about various birds, the importance of confiding in someone you trust, and the rewards of conquering your fears.
The book is not only heartwarming but lovely, the illustrations by Angus evoking the Italian countryside and lifestyle.
I received an ARC pf #TheBirdWhoWasAfraidtoFly from #NetGalley.

This book is set in Siena, Italy, and follows the hatching of Sam, a young bird afraid to fly. Throughout the story, we learn about the sparrows' nest in the city, and about many events that happen there, and even about other types of birds! With the help of his family, Sam learns to confront his fear of falling and finds the courage to chase his dreams of exploring the world.

The illustrations add to the rustic Italian feel of the story, and the writing introduces likely new vocabulary to young readers in a way that elevates their reading without being overly simplistic.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly byHarker Jones in exchange for a honest review.. This is a serious lesson - learning preschool/ early reader book about a bird named Sam who lived in Sienna, Italy with his brothers and sister but was afraid to fly.Sam realizes that sometimes you have to put your fears aside and just go for it if you want to succeed.Beautiful painted illustrations!

Set in Siena and Tuscany, a story of a bird who initially hides his fears and eventually benefits from telling the truth and accepting help. Bonus is all the fun facts about various species of birds and Italian culture, While long for a children’s tale at 60 pages, it is a quick and rewarding read. Great visuals.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the advance copy. I thought this was a beautiful book with a sweet story. It reminds those new readers (1st- 3rd graders I think) that it is okay to be afraid and to need help. Even if everyone doesn’t understand your fears/worries it is good to accept help! I loved the pictures and story was good. My grandson thought it was okay but I don’t see him reading it again. Overall I enjoyed it.

Sometimes you need a little nudge to take a leap of faith. Sam, one of four hatchlings, is afraid to fly. He wasn’t so badly to experience the world, but he just can’t seem to make it happen. Sam’s is a story of overcoming fear and finding the confidence to live his dream.

This book is full of teachable moments, from exploring alliteration to identifying theme to using context clues to figure out vocabulary. With that said, some of the vocabulary may be challenging for elementary students, so it may take some work building background knowledge, as well as teaching vocabulary explicitly, for some to really comprehend the story.

A very sweet, nicely illustrated children’s book tackling the challenges that surround new things and anxiety when you feel left behind. I really enjoyed reading this with sensitive 8 year old.

This was a cute children’s story. What I loved most was how descriptive the author was. In a children’s story book that is important so that the child can visually understand what’s happening. The different sites were described, the characters were described, the stars and the different birds were described, and all in a way that made them seem magical. The artwork was a fun addition as well. There was a clear conflict and a clear resolution with lesson for the reader to learn. All in all, a very cute children’s story.

This is a really charming story and definitely has potential! The illustrations are a standout feature and add a lot of heart to the experience. Unfortunately, the ebook version was difficult to read due to formatting and spacing issues, which seem specific to the digital format. While the concept is cute, the writing itself could use some polishing… quite a few sentences felt awkward or unclear. With some strong editing and a more focused storyline, this could become a truly lovely read for children.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful and cozy! The writing itself is both funny and charming. The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly would be a wonderful read a loud in a bedtime or classroom setting, and is an absolute must have for any bird lovers. Reading this book was like cozying up in a warm blanket straight out of the dryer. It felt comfy and safe. The language throughout could serve to teach younger readers some elegant new vocabulary.

One weakness and a discussion point may be the lack of tact or cruelness of the scared beds family. The beds laugh at his fear and one oversteps boundaries entirely by pushing him out of the nest without consent. While our main character is verbally grateful, it may not have been the kinder course of action or one adults might want to encourage.

Interesting word-filled story about one member of a sparrow family living in Italy and how family members and neighbors care enough to help the fledgling overcome the fear of flying.
The illustrations by Sara Angus are lovely, imaginative, and representative (but clothed!) nature using soft colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone young or not, including ESL, and great for gifting.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on PDF from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
#TheBirdWhoWasAfraidToFly by @harker_j @booksgosocial @childrensbookcouncil @goodreads #nature #kidlit #picturebook #illustration #childrensbooks #imagination #kindleonly

As it has stated in the book detail, this book is suitable for kids from 5 to 8 years old. My son is only 4 years old, so I needed to simplify the words for him. My son had fun reading this book because it was like a game for him to identify who's who. Each bird has their own accessories to different from each other. It was good detail and my son loved it.

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And he realized the only option he had was to spread his wings. And fly. And so he did.

- The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly, 75.00%

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I think my son understood, even if just a little bit, to be brave and courageous like Sam, who used to be scared to fly.

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"There are many things we can do on our own," his father said. "But we all benefit from a helping wing now and then. And there's no shame in that."
"Nor in asking for help," his mother added.

- The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly, 85.00%

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This book also taught kids to be honest with themselves if they need help. My son understood this better because I already told him not to be "cranky" or sad when he can't do something. And not to be shy or embarrassed to ask for help.

Overall, my son and I enjoyed this book so much. Thank you to Harker Jones, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Gorgeous illustrations, but the narrative was too lengthy and lacked enough originality to connect with kids as a picture book. Students who are very familiar with Italian culture may be drawn in.