Customer Reviews

Fly High, Fly Low

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No child growing up in the SF Bay Area should be deprived of this classic tale of love in the nation's most romantic city. Read it aloud to ages 3 to 6.

Sid and Midge are pigeons who eat the bread crumbs from Blum's Bakery (now the Macy's Union Square entrance ...ugh) and enjoy the city together, particularly Union Square. Kids can really relate to Sid's plight on a horribly stormy day, when he is separated from his lovely Midge. They are happily reunited, and the sun shines just as beautifully as every San Franciscan knows it can.

Illustrated in quite colorful pencils, all in 50's fashions (a time when no San Franciscan woman went outside without hat and gloves) with charming views of the city that kids will joyfully recognize.

A classic! This would make a treasured posession for that special San Francisco child!

I have such fond memories of this book from my childhood. My grandfather used to read this to me often in my preschool years, and I was always fascinated my Don Freeman's beautiful, emotional drawings, and the story of these two unusual pigeons and their love for one another.

I still have that old copy from my childhood and read it to my children sometimes.

The story focuses on two pigeons living in San Francisco. Sid is an odd bird, who has built his home in the lower part of the letter B in a lit sign. The other pigeons coo their disapproval of this odd bird and his unconventional home. All, that is, but one white dove, named Midge. Sid and Midge become companions, and eventually decide to build their nest in Sid's letter B. One day as Sid is out getting breakfast in the park, the sign is torn down. Sid returns to find his Midge and their two beautiful eggs missing. Sid's love is so sincere, and his plight so heartbreaking, as he searches desperately for his love and the family they have just begun to build. He ends up bedraggled, in a gutter, too bruised and beaten to fly.
Just as all hope seems to be lost, Sid is rescued and by chance taken to the very spot where he is reunited with his love.

The story itself is a subtle one, the pace fairly slow, though it certainly does not lack suspense. The emotional impact is captured well by the words and drawings. This seems to be one of Freeman's more overlooked stories. However, if you are a fan of Freeman's other books, I would not pass this one by. I think it is easily among my three favorites of his, and I have read nearly all of them.

I bought this to read to my grand kids when they come over and spend the night. They love to lay in bed and let me read all of Don Freeman's books. WE LOVE THEM!! I would highly recommend this book and all of his other books as well!!!~