| Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind |
What You Need to Know:
• Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind is a big, beautiful poem with gorgeous illustrations.
• This book will have your young reader exhilarated at the possibilities of imagination.
• This story is a unique combination of many lovely elements: imagination, gorgeous poetry, stunning illustrations
and an entertaining story.
• Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big WInd would make a beautiful gift book.
• This is also a story that begs to be read out loud. |
Sweet Book Summary:
Gulliver's Travels meets Peter Pan in this wonderul picture book. Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind is a ninety-six page poem that Publisher's weekly called a "novella in verse".
You may recognize the author's name from Hollywood. Gary Ross has written and/or directed many blockbusters including Big, Dave and The Hunger Games. Ross is quite prolific and lucky for us he has found his way into children's literature. The idea for Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind actually developed because of a favor the author did for another director. David Koepp was directing his first feature film, The Trigger Effect, and Koepp called Ross to say he needed a children's story for a scene in the movie. Koepp gave Ross the title and said "maybe the kid should fly". Ross agreed to help his friend out and wrote the first 4 couplets. The story made it into the movie and it stayed with Ross for fifteen years. Finally, after thinking about it and working on it intermittently, Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind was born. (Click here to listen to the full, entertaining interview with Gary Ross on All Things Considered on NPR).
During a storm, ten-year-old Bart decides to fashion a kite out of his bedsheet and take flight. His first destination is a land full of friendly pirates. Bart stays there for a few weeks until all the fun just doesn't seem fun anymore. Bart's next destination is a school where everyone looks miserable. There he meets another boy, Densy, who is tired of his sad little school and all its rules. Bart tries to take Densy with him to his next adventure, but Densy isn't able to find the courage to leave.
Bart's unplanned final destination is a canyon that he gets blown into during a storm. The only problem with this touch down is that there is no way out. The canyon has no wind. In the canyon, Bartholomew was in good company with other fliers who were also stranded. There was even a surprise appearance by Amelia Earhart (who knew Gary Ross held the secret of her fate all these years).
Bart is crestfallen. His mom's nagging and all his godforsaken chores back home no longer look as bad to Bart, now that there is a possibility he may never go home. Just when he couldn't get any lower, his new friend Densy showed up. Densy helped Bart find his courage again. After all, Densy had a good teacher in Bart.
The carpe diem feel of this story is like no other story I have read recently. Bartholomew is a good teacher for both children and adults. He reminds us we can do it all, if we believe in ourselves. Ross also reminds parents:
"...Cause deep down inside them,
both of them knew
the best thing a mom
or a dad ought to do
was to let kids take off
and let go of their hand,
and just watch them fly...
'cause they already can.
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Author: Gary Ross Illustrator: Matthew Myers Published: 2012, 96 pages
Themes: Adventure, Poetry, Rhyming Language, Exquisite Illustrations, Imagination, Extraordinary Language |
Sweet Discussion Questions:
• Are you like Bartholomew or Densy?
• Would you have the courage to fly to an unknown destination?
• What did you learn from Bartholomew's story?
• Do you think Bartholomew really flew or was it a dream? Why?
• Do you think Bartholomew's parents learned anything from his adventures? If so, what did they learn? |
| This recommendation was written by: Melissa Y. |
| Support Independent Book Shops: Click Here to Buy this Book on IndieBound |
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