Mel Fell: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

by Corey R. Tabor, Corey R. Tabor (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Packed with heart, charm and adorable illustrations, Corey Tabor opens the door for readers of all ages to be inspired and captivated by Mel, a Kingfisher, who’s ready to learn to fly. Mel admits she’s scared, “But I won’t let that stop me,” she proudly exclaims! Readers will be captivated by the fun, rotating design, hilarious animal friends Mel meets along the journey and encouraging life lessons. A special book (no matter which way you hold it) and one that’s sure to leave a lasting impression on all those who read it.

A Caldecott Honor Book and ALA Notable Book of the Year! An innovative and charming tale about a plucky little bird, from the award-winning author-illustrator of Fox the Tiger.

Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.

Sometimes, you might fall

               down,

                               down,

                                               down,

before you learn to fly

               up,

                               up,

                                               up…

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062878014
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/02/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	18,296
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Mel Fell and the three-time Geisel Award winner for Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, and Fox the Tiger. His other acclaimed titles include the young graphic novel chapter books Sir Ladybug, Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee, and Sir Ladybug and the Bookworms; the picture books Ursula Upside Down, Simon and the Better Bone, Snail Crossing, Fox and the Bike Ride, and Fox and the Jumping Contest; and the I Can Reads Fox versus Fox, Fox versus Winter, Fox Is Late, and Fox Plays Ball. Corey R. Tabor lives in Tacoma, Washington, with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. You can visit him online at coreyrtabor.com.

Corey R. Tabor is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Mel Fell and the three-time Geisel Award winner for Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, and Fox the Tiger. His other acclaimed titles include the young graphic novel chapter books Sir Ladybug, Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee, and Sir Ladybug and the Bookworms; the picture books Ursula Upside Down, Simon and the Better Bone, Snail Crossing, Fox and the Bike Ride, and Fox and the Jumping Contest; and the I Can Reads Fox versus Fox, Fox versus Winter, Fox Is Late, and Fox Plays Ball. Corey R. Tabor lives in Tacoma, Washington, with his wife and son and spends his time making pictures and stories. You can visit him online at coreyrtabor.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/09/2020

With Mama Kingfisher temporarily away from the nest, a tangerine-and-turquoise-hued chick named Mel confidently strides out to the edge of a very high tree branch and announces that she’s going to learn how to fly. “It sure is a long drop,” observes one of her considerably more cautious siblings, which is a cue for the narrative and visual arc of this story by Tabor (Snail Crossing) to take a decidedly funny downward turn. The mixed media drawings, alive with wonderful textures and soft colors, show Mel executing an impressive aerial somersault before blithely hurtling headfirst in parallel with the tree trunk as inhabitants below are thrown into comic panic, convinced that Mel’s dive-bombing will result in disaster. An owl family looks on with alarm, a spider tries to catch her with all eight hands, and a good-hearted, slow-moving slug makes a clearly impossible promise: “I... will... catch... you...!” Just as the trajectory looks bleak, Mel hits the previously unrevealed water below—the white background turns beautiful shades of blue—and shows, through a wonderful visual surprise, that she’s a kingfisher through and through. (An endnote provides more info on the species.) “Hope” may be the thing with feathers, but Mel proves that “gutsy” can be, too. Ages 4–8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

The mixed media drawings, alive with wonderful textures and soft colors, show Mel executing an impressive aerial somersault before blithely hurtling headfirst in parallel with the tree trunk as inhabitants below are thrown into comic panic, convinced that Mel’s dive-bombing will result in disaster…. ‘Hope’ may be the thing with feathers, but Mel proves that ‘gutsy’ can be, too.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Young people, who find themselves on the precipice of new activities, routines, schools, and challenges so frequently, will savor this little kingfisher’s success and perhaps feel they can right themselves the next time they fall into a downward spiral….Encourages children to feel brave, to try, and to believe they can soar.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“There’s a good deal of humor in this lighthearted story; a slug keeps promising to help but never makes it far, and a fly is liberated (“I’m free!”) from the spider’s web when Mel falls through it. Tabor’s relaxed, loose-lined illustrations capture the energy of the fall as well as Mel’s endearing, determined personality.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Heartening fare for nestlings facing plunges of their own.” — Booklist

“Clever wordplay and lively narration give this immediate appeal, while the unique composition and dynamic mixed-media art confer buoyant energy. Audiences will appreciate Mel’s no-nonsense, can-do attitude, and aspiring birdwatchers will find a few fun facts in the author’s note.”  — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

Clever wordplay and lively narration give this immediate appeal, while the unique composition and dynamic mixed-media art confer buoyant energy. Audiences will appreciate Mel’s no-nonsense, can-do attitude, and aspiring birdwatchers will find a few fun facts in the author’s note.” 

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

There’s a good deal of humor in this lighthearted story; a slug keeps promising to help but never makes it far, and a fly is liberated (“I’m free!”) from the spider’s web when Mel falls through it. Tabor’s relaxed, loose-lined illustrations capture the energy of the fall as well as Mel’s endearing, determined personality.

Horn Book (starred review)

Clever wordplay and lively narration give this immediate appeal, while the unique composition and dynamic mixed-media art confer buoyant energy. Audiences will appreciate Mel’s no-nonsense, can-do attitude, and aspiring birdwatchers will find a few fun facts in the author’s note.” 

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Heartening fare for nestlings facing plunges of their own.

Booklist

Clever wordplay and lively narration give this immediate appeal, while the unique composition and dynamic mixed-media art confer buoyant energy. Audiences will appreciate Mel’s no-nonsense, can-do attitude, and aspiring birdwatchers will find a few fun facts in the author’s note.” 

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Heartening fare for nestlings facing plunges of their own.

Booklist

★ 2020-11-18
Mel knows it’s her day to fly.

A stout kingfisher fledgling marches to the end of her branch, jumps, flips, spreads her wings—and falls. Down she goes, beak-first, eyes shut, smiling broadly. This lovely book’s vertical format prompts readers to look longitudinally at each spread, up and down the trunk of a tall tree, following Mel’s descent. The unusual orientation, coupled with the gripping idea of first flight (or fall!), inspires both excitement and anxiety. Muted pastel illustrations set against ample, bleached-out white space convey craggy bark, Mel’s soft blue and russet feathers, and clusters of oval celadon leaves. Mel plummets, and animals (squirrels, bees, ants—even a spider and a realllllly slow-moving snail) scramble to help, adding humor. She crashes (into water!), and readers hold their breath, turning the book to follow her new trajectory. When Mel turns and shoots out of the water holding a fish in her beak, past her animal friends on the tree trunk, they will cheer. A note on kingfishers appears in the backmatter above a delightful picture of Mel nudging one of her siblings toward the end of the branch. Young people, who find themselves on the precipice of new activities, routines, schools, and challenges so frequently, will savor this little kingfisher’s success and perhaps feel they can right themselves the next time they fall into a downward spiral.

Encourages children to feel brave, to try, and to believe they can soar. (Picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews