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

P.D. Eastman (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Beginner Books(R)

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

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375802436
• ISBN-13: 978-0375802430
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.4 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Anne B. Roberts "kazakhbiba" (Clarkesville, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flap Your Wings (Beginner Books(R)) (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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

"wgutenkauf" (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flap Your Wings (Beginner Books(R)) (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

This review is from: Flap Your Wings (Beginner Books(R)) (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.