(3) K-3 Illustrated by Qin Leng. A clueless panda bear and a wandering kite interrupt a series of unfriendly animals in this mostly wordless book. Loose ink and watercolor illustrations capture panda's missteps in sequential images; as the protagonist topples a pangolin's drum and disrupts a raccoon's game, the offended animals only point out what is "mine" and what is "yours." This visually appealing animal story gently reinforces the importance of community.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In their seventh outing (Bears in the Snow etc.), the four colorful little bears and Big Brown Bear prepare a picnic to enjoy under flowering trees. When "the wind's just right," the little cubs abandon their honey bread to fly kites, then go for an unexpected ride along. The bears' pastel colors match the springtime setting in Walker's acrylic illustrations, which nicely complement Parenteau's sweet rhyming story.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) K-3 The little boy and his grandad from Rain and Snow return for more weather-related imaginative adventures. They set off on the hottest day of year for a picnic (Sun) and fly a kite in autumn wind gusts (Storm). As usual, the outings turn slightly fantastical, told with some visual clues. Expansive ink and watercolor pictures add to the stories' appeal. Review includes these titles: Storm and Sun.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) K-3 In Nu Dang, a boy loves flying his kite "more than anything else." One windy day the kite breaks free. Paper-Flower is about a girl who tries to grow a "paper-flower tree" from a bead given to her by a traveling performer. Ayer relates both tales with a storyteller's cadence; her vivid illustrations show a range of daily activities, people, and places in mid-twentieth-century Thailand.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: April, 1959; November, 2017

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Puppies Biscuit and Puddles accompany their little girl owners to fly kites in the park. They have their kites and string and now just need wind. It takes several tries, but with their pups' (adorable) help, the kites are soon soaring. Repeated words and doggie sounds make this a good pick for very new readers. As ever, Schories's illustrations have a sweet nostalgic feel.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 My Day Learning Science series. Abby flies a kite, learning how the wind pushes and lifts; Nora pursues activities befitting each season, such as building a snowman in winter. Large easy-reader texts are supported by relevant stock photos, and new vocabulary words are presented in bold-colored type. Young readers should readily grasp the clearly, if rather blandly, presented concepts. Discussion questions are appended. Reading list. Glos. Review covers these My Day Learning Science titles: Abby Flies a Kite and Nora's Busy Year.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley. Enchanted by her neighbor William's kite, Daisy runs away with it and hides it at home. Eventually, she returns it, scratching an apology in the sand by his front gate--and then Daisy's new friend William helps her make her own kite. Holmes's simply but evocatively told story (first published in Australia) avoids sermonizing. A kite-flying wind seems to blow through the appropriately loose pencil and watercolor illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Amazing Chinese Inventions series. Illustrated by YongSheng Xuan. In bilingual editions of these original tales (Chinese texts not evaluated), the clever Kang brothers tackle various challenges: eating hot food (Chopsticks), scaring birds from their rice fields (Kites), salvaging their mother's botched cooking-contest entry (Noodles), and saving face at school (Paper). Bold images, reminiscent of traditional Chinese cut-paper designs, illustrate the tales. An author's note provides brief history of each invention. Recipe/activity appended. Review covers these Amazing Chinese Inventions titles: The Story of Chopsticks, The Story of Kites, The Story of Noodles, The Story of Paper.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Illustrated by Zachariah OHora. A snoozing bear breaks a little girl's kite ("CRUNCH!"). The girl wakes the creature by shouting "HORRIBLE BEAR!" then storms off. The put-out bear stomps down to the girl's house, ready to wake her up--and he's unprepared for the apology he receives. This lively conflict-resolution-in-picture-book's-clothing is as entertaining as it is instructive. OHora's acrylic illustrations with thick black lines enhance the humor.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Flett. Brothers Joe and Cody, with their family, spend summers camping on Manitoba's hundreds of lakes. The boys' favorite pets are dragonflies, which they fly like magic kites on thread--only to find them again in their dreams. Highway's bilingual English/Cree text (cleanly incorporated into the elegant page design) has a graceful simplicity, and Flett's new illustrations enhance it with quiet colors and textures.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) K-3 Penguin Blue tries to fly a kite; it flies him instead. All the animals who try to help end up airborne as well, and they land on a lush island. Ingenuity and the help of new friends whooossh the accidental travelers back to "solid ice." Jaunty rhyming text propels the lighthearted story forward; digital illustrations present the situation and characters with deadpan humor.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(4) K-3 Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. Illustrated by Gary Undercuffler. Francisco misses flying kites in his native El Salvador, so he builds one from found materials in his new Chicago neighborhood. The owner of a recycled goods store notices the kite and offers to pay Francisco to make twenty more. In both English and Spanish, the quiet text tells a gentle story. The illustrations are stiff but convey Francisco's pride in his creations.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Little Critter excitedly prepares for Saturday's Critterville Kite Flying Contest, but he runs into trouble while practicing. Grandpa saves the day by crafting a ribbon-winning ("for the most original") kite. The bland story features Mayer's familiar characters facing a challenge and predictably coming out for the better. Simple word repetition and large typeface will aid the brand-new reader.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 A dog and a rat find a rabbit flattened in the road. Wanting to move her to a better place, they find inspiration at the park; they carefully fasten her to a kite and let her fly. The story's odd fancy and understated watercolor and line illustrations treat the sensitive topic gently, while the dog and rat prove to be respectful, thoughtful characters.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. In this well-imagined tale set along the Silk Road, Yazul learns about kite-making from his grandfather and uses that knowledge to save his father's han (walled settlement) from bandits. A particular time and place are not specified, but complex relationships between the family's three generations feel authentic. Pages are beautifully presented with ornate borders and illustrated in tones of blue and brown.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Greg Ruth. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Tai Shan's father is sent to a labor camp outside the village, but they stay connected by flying kites on their far-apart hillsides. The vivid kites, appearing in red and blue in the muted-tone art, resonate as symbols of freedom and connection between the father and son. An author's note details Jiang's real-life inspiration for the powerful story.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christiane Krömer. Action-filled collages of traditional fabrics, textured paper, yarn, and more display intricate sky- and cityscapes of Lahore, Pakistan, during Basant, the spring kite festival. Malik, skillfully using his handmade small kite to conquer the bully next door in the kite battle, is a real hero; that he uses a wheelchair is incidental to the story. Useful contextual information is appended.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Terry Widener. Based on historical documents, O'Neill lyrically recounts determined young Homan Walsh's triumph of constructing and flying a kite across the Niagara River from Canada to New York. His success aided engineers in building the first bridge connecting the countries. Lush full-page acrylic paintings capture the drama of the event. The author's note provides additional information. Timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 It's perfect kite-flying weather, so Bear and Mole (Spring Is Here!) construct their own kite and fly it happily until a storm whisks it away. They chase the kite and discover that it has found a new purpose: shielding baby birds from the storm. The eventful plot, plentiful sound effects, and jaunty illustrations make this an excellent addition to Bear and Mole's adventures.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Half-Japanese Skye finally meets her dad's estranged Japanese relatives when they come to the States for Grandfather's cancer treatment. She and her cousin Hiroshi argue about everything but eventually bond over their love for Japanese kite flying and their grandfather. The cousins alternate narration, giving readers an intimate view of their believable emotional life and maturation in this involving story.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander