Fletcher and the Fledgling

by Heather S Lonczak, Dusica D Dimitrovska (Illustrator)

Overview

'Fletcher and the Fledgling' is a story about a little boy, Fletcher, who is thrilled to be finally riding his bicycle without training wheels. As his family gathers around, they notice that the neighborhood crows are awfully excited too. Although Fletcher is ready for his big ride, his parents must first ensure that everything is safe. A large crow family nearby appears to be doing much the same for their own fledgling. Fletcher is overjoyed as he realizes he's soaring all by himself--a sensation that seems to be shared by a baby crow floating over his head. 'Fletcher and the Fledgling' provides readers a glimpse of how family love, support and protectiveness transcend the human species to include those most glorious and brilliant creatures we call 'crows.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781734468700
Publisher:	Heather S Lonczak
Publication date:	02/01/2020
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 9 Years

About the Author

Heather S. Lonczak, PhD, is a psychologist, researcher and writer with expertise in youth resilience and socioemotional development. She has published numerous scholarly articles and is an award-winning children's book author. Dr. Lonczak is a lover of animals and a loyal supporter of wildlife conservation. She lives in Seattle with her beloved family and pets.

Editorial Reviews

2020-11-23
A child and a fledgling show off their new skills in this coming-of-age picture book.

It’s Fletcher’s big day: The training wheels are coming off his bike. His light-skinned family has gathered; his parents, aunts, and grandfather have their cameras ready. Nearby, some noisy crows also sound like they are celebrating. When a motorcyclist roars down the street, it almost disrupts the day—and it certainly bothers the crows, who then dive at a neighbor passing too closely beneath their tree. But soon Fletcher is off, and after his father lets go, the boy realizes a small crow is gliding alongside him. “Look at us,” Fletcher calls out. “We’re Flying!!” This slice-of-life story is told simply in a down- to-earth fashion that focuses tightly on Fletcher’s excitement at accomplishing a rite of passage. While psychologist Lonczak acknowledges the boy’s worries (“The bike felt wobbly at first, and Fletcher was a little scared”), the tale puts heavy weight on the support of his relatives and the subtle parallel between their presence and the protectiveness of the crow’s parents. Dimitrovska’s vibrant oil-pastel illustrations are softly lined, sometimes creating an indistinct feel at the borders of people and backgrounds, making details slightly hazy. But the choice of colors for Fletcher’s helmet, eyes, bike, and clothing emphasizes the feeling of flight. In his moment of victory, the boy almost appears to be part of the sky.

An uplifting tale of triumph likely to encourage struggling young bicyclists to take off soaring.

Kirkus Reviews

"An uplifting tale of triumph likely to encourage struggling young bicyclists to take off soaring." - Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher