Willa and Wade and the Way-Up-There

by Judith Henderson, Sara Sarhangpour

Overview

Two best friends follow their flights of fancy in this first book in a graphic novel series for early readers.

Best friends Willa and Wade really want to fly. Sure, Willa’s an ostrich and Wade’s a penguin. But there must be some way they can get off the ground! The two thorough thinkers try different ways — from pirouettes to pogo sticks — to catch some air. But while they do a lot of trying, it doesn’t lead to any flying! Will the friends ever reach their lofty goal?

Kids will be charmed. Who doesn’t want to fly? Especially with your best friend beside you!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525313509
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	06/04/2024
Series:	Willa and Wade , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Judith Henderson is a writer, composer and producer, and is the author of Dee and Apostrofee, AAAlligator! and others. She created the theme song for the Emmy Award-winning show Arthur and has composed for many other shows as well. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Sara Sarhangpour is an illustrator who creates silly and heartwarming drawings and comics. She studied Illustration at Seneca College and lives with her best friend and senior dog, Teddy, in Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

The trope of the unlikely friendship delivered with a traditional feel and a modern message.—Kirkus Reviews (Praise for AAAlligator!)

A friendship tale that soars.—Kirkus Reviews

... imparts about the crucial role of teamwork, the power of perseverance, and the importance of friendship are not just special, they are invaluable.—Children's Literature

A fable-like tale full of gentle twists that emphasize questioning assumptions and creative problem solving.—Publishers Weekly (Praise for AAAlligator!)

... a sweet, gentle picture book about friendship and belonging.—Kirkus Reviews (Praise for This Is a Dog Book!)

The way-up-there that Willa and Wade aspire to enjoy is not unlike the many ambitions we all have and, if two flightless birds can find a way to fly, then we can do our best to aim high and find solutions too.—CanLit for LittleCanadians

Undoubtedly, many will look forward to reading more of Willa and Wade's adventures. Early elementary readers will delight in Willa and Wade's high jinks.—School Library Journal

a whimsical tale of friendship, teamwork, and creative thinking ... A great introduction to graphic novels ...—The Quebec Library Association (ABQLA)

From the Publisher

06/01/2024

PreS-Gr 2—Two flightless birds have no shortage of follies in their mission to launch themselves into the "way-up-there." Thorough thinkers Willa (an ostrich) and Wade (a penguin) use a lot of determination and a bit of scientific trial-and-error to get some air. The two friends hatch many plans: running for velocity, ballet for lightness, pogo sticks for lift, and sliding for speed. What they realize through their process of elimination is that rather than shifting approach, they need to shift their expectations. In fact, any critter feathered or furred could fly for a bit with the right set of conditions—as long as there is a safe place to land. The narrative is a bit of a trope, but the graphic novel format puts a fresh spin on a familiar story. Sarhangpour's illustrations juxtapose uber-cute characters with a subdued palette, and by avoiding cloying colors, she broadens this title's appeal to the full gamut of emergent readers. Undoubtedly, many will look forward to reading more of Willa and Wade's adventures. VERDICT Early elementary readers will delight in Willa and Wade's high jinks, while grown-ups will appreciate the underlying lesson of resilience. A solid addition to school and public collections.—Sarah Simpson

School Library Journal

2024-04-05
Grounded personalities are curious about how to soar.

Willa the ostrich and Wade the penguin experiment with different means of achieving flight. Maybe they just need a running start? Or perhaps they need to be light on their feet. Some of their attempts end in a crash, but they always bounce back, undeterred. Sarhangpour depicts the pair with sparkles in their eyes and hearts fluttering around them—it’s evident they’re set on attaining their goal. After a day of attempts, they pause to reflect on what they’ve managed to accomplish: They had fun and helped each other. (Wade, a seasoned swimmer, gave Willa a lesson on how to float, while Willa gave an exhausted Wade a ride as they headed to the top of a cliff.) By the book’s conclusion, whether Willa and Wade will ever truly fly remains unclear, but they’ll definitely keep trying and learning together. Each page of this graphic novel contains one or two panels; anything the flightless friends say or do becomes the centerpiece of that page, sometimes against a blank background. The cartoonish art is simple and clear, and Willa and Wade’s friendship and optimistic spirit come through loudly: The two never assign blame for a failed idea and are always open to each other’s suggestions.

A friendship tale that soars. (Graphic early reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews