Boy Who Could Fly (Book & CD) [Paperback]

Sally Gardner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008 | Series: Book & CD

One day the Fat Fairy turns up at Thomas Top's house to grant him a birthday wish. Thomas can't think what to ask for, so he wishes he could fly. That's how Thomas goes from being just an ordinary boy whom no one notices to being the most popular boy in the school. But it makes him sad that grown-ups can't see the wonderful things he can do. His flying gets him suspended from school, and that makes life at home much worse, because his dad gets so cross and it makes his mum miserable. But then the Fat Fairy turns up again, and with help from her and Thomas's new friend Mr Vinnie, a retired painter and decorator who has been flying since he was Thomas's age, everything changes. This is an enchanting story in which an unconfident child discovers a special gift that brings him joy and heartache. The magic of the words, the humour and poignancy of the story and the wonderful characters, are all enhanced by the author's own delightful drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Serious fun". -- Jan Mark Carousel, Summer 2002 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Sally Gardner trained at art college and went on to work in the theatre, winning awards for her costume designs for some notable productions. After her twin daughters and her son were born she started to illustrate children's books, and then turned to writing. She lives in North London. Sally Gardner trained at art college and went on to work in the theatre, winning awards for her costume designs for some notable productions. After her twin daughters and her son were born she started to illustrate children's books, and then turned to writing. She lives in North London. Andrew Sachs has performed widely in stage, film and television. Television work includes Manuel in FAWLTY TOWERS Einstein in HORIZON SPECIAL: EINSTEIN, Peter Pryce in JACK OF HEARTS, and Joseph in SILENT WITNESS. He also does commentating, radio work (winner of the SONY RADIO AWARD 1989 BEST ACTOR) and numerous voice-overs and audiobooks (PERFORMER OF THE YEAR, SPOKEN WORD AWARD 1999).

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Orion Childrens H/B & Trade Pb (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752891057
• ISBN-13: 978-0752891057
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,231,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a kiddy fairytale..., August 26, 2005

By 

fedora_girl (Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boy Who Could Fly (Magical Children) (Paperback)

This is a children's book through and through: larger letters (though not as large as those one-sentence-per-page picture books), pages filled with drawings, and simpler words. It's short too; I read it in less than an hour.

The plot isn't really that hard to understand; we have an average boy in an average family. Then he meets a particularly fat fairy who grants him one birthday wish: to fly.

But the adults, too busy with their grown-up problems, won't believe that he can fly, even when they see him somersaulting right in front of them. Especially his dad.

This book has some issues that don't normally grace childrens' books (though in a very simple form), but it still has the lighthearted ending the kids would need to sleep soundly.

But this is a good grown-up story too. It reminds us that we're growing old because we don't feel young, that there's magic all around and we're just too blind to see it. Life should not be taken too seriously, and it's OK to be different.

That said, read this and see for yourself.