Earnest Sandpiper’s Great Ascent by Timothy Basil Ering
Published by Candlewick Press on April 9, 2024
ISBN: 0763697354
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

This heartfelt story is about overcoming fear using a gentle text and bright illustrations to encourage growth in one’s own sweet time. This is the day the sandpiper children will learn to fly. Two of them are ready; the third, Earnest, isn’t. His parents are patient and his siblings offer Earnest guidance and reassurance. After being left alone, Earnest makes a flying attempt but fails. He sees a free-flying balloon and follows it into the water and becomes entangled in its dangling ribbon. His cries for help go unanswered until his returning family finally arouses sufficient belief in himself that he is ready to fly. Earnest frees himself by flapping his wings hard, allowing him to take flight. An author’s note offers more information on the dangers balloons pose to wildlife. The largish-size format will make this a nice readaloud for ages 5-7 as it is on the longer side for a picture book and packs a lot into its pages. Follow-up with discussion.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library