Flap Your Wings (Beginner Books(R)) [Hardcover]

P.D. Eastman (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: January 25, 2000 | Age Range: 3 - 7 years | Series: Beginner Books(R) | Lexile Measure: 10L (What's this?)

When a strange egg appears in their nest, Mr. and Mrs. Bird kindly take it upon themselves to raise the "baby bird" inside. But when the egg hatches, the Birds are in for a big surprise--"Junior" is the oddest-looking baby bird they've ever seen--with big, long jaws full of teeth and an appetite to match. In fact, he looks more like a baby alligator than a baby bird! Nevertheless, the devoted Birds run themselves ragged feeding Junior until he gets so big, he must leave the nest or it will collapse underneath him. But how can Junior fly without wings? To the delight of the Birds--and readers!--the dilemma is solved when Junior takes off from a branch overlooking a pond.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

When a strange egg appears in their nest, Mr. and Mrs. Bird kindly take it upon themselves to raise the "baby bird" inside. But when the egg hatches, the Birds are in for a big surprise--"Junior" is the oddest-looking baby bird they've ever seen--with big, long jaws full of teeth and an appetite to match. In fact, he looks more like a baby alligator than a baby bird! Nevertheless, the devoted Birds run themselves ragged feeding Junior until he gets so big, he must leave the nest or it will collapse underneath him. But how can Junior fly without wings? To the delight of the Birds--and readers!--the dilemma is solved when Junior takes off from a branch overlooking a pond.

About the Author

P. D. Eastman was one of the stars of the Beginner Books line with beloved classics like Are You My Mother?; Go, Dog. Go!; The Best Nest; and more!


From the Non-traditional book edition.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 7 years
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (January 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375802436
• ISBN-13: 978-0375802430
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.3 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Birds

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flap Your Wings June 26, 2001

By Anne B. Roberts

Format:Hardcover

I am thrilled to find this book back in print. Our family received a paperback edition many years ago as a gift. We have read it literally to pieces. Since receiving this gift, we have added three children to our family through international adoption. Like the bird family, we don't look alike, but we share the same nest. My husband and I live by Mr. Bird's philosophy, "If an egg is in your nest, you sit on it and keep it warm." Our answer to nosy questions concerning one of our children - "He's in our nest, so he must be ours."

We are now entering a new phase of parenting. The first of our 6 children is moving out to begin life on her own. Once again Mr. Bird in his wisdom has given us direction: "It's getting too crowded up here. Junior has to leave the nest. It is time for him to fly away...We must show him how to fly." Of course our pride matches Mr. Bird as we watch her go, "(S)he's happy now! Just watch (her) swim" or fly or soar.

Flap Your Wings is a classic. It celebrates love, family, differences, attachment, and letting go. Thank you P.D. Eastman for your fabulous book. I will read it for years to come.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For Graduates: Parents and Children Alike October 18, 2000

By "wgutenkauf"

Format:Library Binding

While this is obviously a children's book, don't lose sight of the metaphor! Like Mr. and Mrs. Bird, we usually are surprised by this "creature" in our nest, but what the heck, we do our best to feed and nurture them. And when they get too big for the nest, physically, psychologically and emotionally, we do need to push them out and tell them to flap their wings. And guess what? They become exactly who they are supposed to be, despite our attempts to make them who we THINK they should be. This is one of my favorite graduation books, mostly for my friends who are pushing their children out of the nest.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny primer March 9, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Library Binding

I was excited to see this book being printed again. Eastman ( Go Dog Go ) had me laughing out loud the first time I read this to my kids. A bird couple comes home to find an enormous egg ( an alligator egg) in their nest. The trials and tribulations of hatching and raising the " baby bird" are lessons in parenting and work ethics, funny as they are. The couple trying to teach their "baby bird " to fly brings the book to a hilarious climax.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute book! December 27, 2005

By csm TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Boy, is this ever cute! when a little boy puts an alligator egg in the Birds' nest, they take care of it as if it was their own. They sit on it until it hatches then when he does, they feed it constantly! It's funny watching an alligator eating all that "bird food" and still grows huge. The end is particularly nice. They decide it's time for "Junior" to learn to fly but instead, he learns to swim. Sure is a cute story - especially on caring for others. Highly recommend!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for parents of adopted children August 21, 2004

By K's Mom

Format:Hardcover

I checked out the book at a local library, and ended up adding the book to my collection. It's a beautiful and touching story that the parents of adopted chilren must have it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a funny & fabulous beginning reader June 11, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Library Binding|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am so pleased to see this book back in print. It is a hilarious book to read aloud, the reader as well as the children will enjoy it. It's a meditation on parenthood among other things. Incidental to the fun, children will learn about the life of birds, and that other creatures are hatched from eggs as well, with a little ecology thrown in. A book no parent, teacher or child should miss!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars funny and teachs kids good life lesson August 14, 2005

By D. Lane

Format:Hardcover

This is a favorite of my daycare kids. When Mr. and Mrs. Bird discover a strange egg in their nest they try to hatch it. Mr. Bird is a delight to read. He says through the whole book it doesn't matter if it's not their egg, they still take care of it, it doesn't matter if baby alligator doesn't look like them, they still need to feed it. It doesn't matter if the baby alligator can't fly because he's happy in the water. I can't praise the book more. It's a fun easy read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Children's book/cute story line July 26, 2007

By B. Romero

Format:Hardcover

This book has a very cute story line.
My daughter was especially intrigued by this book because we often talk about birds and have even watched a few build their nests outside.
It also has a good story about what birds eat....to help children envision what birds feed to their young.
Very well written and great for beginner readers.