Customer Reviews

Learning to Fly

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If children's book publishers are on top of things then they know that there's been a shift in the wind. The hot new source of children's book reviews and reviewers? Weblogs, my friends. Weblogs are incredibly important in getting people aware of the hot new titles and trends in the field. And no picture book makes this any clearer than Sebastian Meschenmoser's, "Learning To Fly". If you look at the review of this book in Publisher's Weekly, you'll see that the professional reviewer hadn't a CLUE what to do with this book or (for that matter) any understanding of how popular it could become. Myself? I first heard about "Learning to Fly" because of weblogs. Several of them, entirely of their own accord, started reviewing this book and they were practically drooling all over it. Now if I had just looked at PW's review ("Don't penguins' actual talents, like deep-sea swimming, compensate for flightlessness?") I might have eschewed "Learning to Fly". Fortunately, I had a variety of sources from which to cull my information and the result was that I have had the delight of reading "Learning To Fly" for myself. And boy oh boy is it lovely. It's succinct, deeply silly (in all the right ways), and perhaps one of the best German picture books ever to grace our American shores.

One day, a man meets a penguin. The two start to talking and the penguin reveals that not too long ago he was flying. The man points out that penguins can't fly and the bird accedes the point. Just the same, it didn't know that before it began flying on its own and it wasn't until a passing flock of birds alerted it to the fact that it crashed. Determined to help the little fellow out, the man takes it home, cleans it up, and together they set out to prove whether or not penguins are or aren't able to fly. This means testing the penguin in a variety of ways. Everything from a training program and exercise to attaching goggles and fireworks to its back. Then one day, as the penguin sits in a makeshift trebuchet, a flock of other penguins fly above. "Suddenly, my penguin stretched out his wings, pushed off, and joined them in the air". The last words as the man stands looking at his departing friend? "He flew pretty well... for a penguin".

The book has several elements all working in its favor. You have the plot itself, which is charming. It could be cutesy or overly sweet, but there's something in Meschenmoser's tone that never allows the book to be anything but a straightforward record of the events that led to his penguin friend's boost in confidence. I don't know if it's the translation or if the author really is this dry a wit, but the book reads with a kind of deadpan humor you almost never get in children's books. This is complemented perfectly by the art. Instead of something cartoonish or childlike, all the artwork in this book is done in graphite. The penguin looks like a real penguin and the man looks like the author himself. There's always a splash of color here or there, but for the most part these illustrations are black and white. Meschenmoser is also obviously a big big fan of American superhero comic books and graphic novels so he sneaks in references to Superman and Batman here and there. Some people adore the shot of the penguin asleep in the sink. Personally, I much preferred the two-page spread of the man indicating to the penguin all his designs, blueprints, and plans for getting the flightless fowl airborn. You haven't lived till you've seen Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man reimagined as a penguin (but with a curly mop of hair still on its head).

There were several things about the Publisher's Weekly review of this book that amused me deeply. At one point the reviewer notes huffily, "even true believers must admit that his premise is silly". Oh me! Oh my! A book for kids that's silly? Martha, fetch me my smelling salts... I'm feeling a touch of the vapors! Sheesh. Come on, people! Of course it's a ridiculous premise. It's also, I should note, not exactly a new one. Fans of "Bloom County" will recall Opus the penguin's many repeated attempts to fly, always ending with his rump in the air and his nose squashed flat. There are also several children's books in which dodos and ostriches try to fly. Are we going to get indignant over their presumption as well? If you're going to find fault with this book you're going to have to do a lot better than saying it's "silly". Perhaps, and bear with me here, that's exactly the point. The reviewer might have made a bigger deal about the penguin flopping around the dryer, but since she didn't I'm sure as heck not going to either.

As one children's literature blogger pointed out, "penguins are the `it' animal right now". All the more reason why a realistic looking book with a fabulous penguin hero should garner itself the attention it so desperately deserves. Now this year there are going to be a couple picture books for whom I shall "go to the mats" (as my colleagues put it) to get them recognized in some way. Consider this book one of the few. A rare title that will delight kids, entice adults, and make anyone who fancies penguins a deeply satisfied soul. One of the few must-buy children's titles of 2006.

All you need to make a penguin fly is a sharp pencil and a sharper wit. In absolute deadpan, Meschenmoser explains how he took in a penguin who'd crash landed one wintry day after other birds convinced it that it couldn't fly.

The two bond over fish sticks and the penguin snuggles in his sink, and they team up to re-take the skies. Meschenmoser sketches himself in full slouch, scruffy beard and all, timing the penguin in a stress test in the dryer or launching it like an arrow.

The book was originally published in German, and in translation it keeps its Teutonic sensibility in the way it takes its absurdity seriously. Even the happy ending -- a colony of penguins flies overhead -- has a degree of fatalism about it.

Meschenmoser added only spot color to certain sketches, aiming for an expressionistic touch, and the spare layout underscores the story's stark realism.

I fell in love with this book the first time I saw it in the GW University Bookstore in 2006. The imagery is fantastic and the message is uplifting. I have bought about 20 copies since to give as gifts. It makes a great gift for a new baby or for a child. But, in my opinion it's great for any age.

I first saw this book reviewed on TV in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. I would have bought it immediately but I was flying out in the AM. I tried to order it in German as soon as I returned home to no avail. It's now been translated to English and it's just as charming as it was in German. I highly recommend this book both for the short story line and the outstanding pencil drawings.

More times that I can possibly count, a good story will be accompanied by subpar illustrations or a book with stunning illustrations will be paired with insipid writing. The latter is always worse because your expectations have been built up by the cover art. In any case, it's always a thrill to find an author who is equally adept at both. Sebastian Meschenmoser is both of those things, and funny to boot. Unfortunately, he is also German, and these are the only two books of his, that I know of, available in English.

This is so told in such a straightforward manner, but it's also so wonderfully tongue in cheek. It starts off "Last winter, I found a penguin. He told me he'd been flying." And the penguin goes on to tell him that he thought he would just give flying a try, and it worked out okay. Until he ran into some other flying birds and they confirmed that penguins can't fly. Then he fell. I guess those other birds got in his head. Poor guy.

Sebastian (because the drawn version looks an awful lot like the author; I think this might be an autobiographical tale) takes this poor, dejected penguin home. They eat dinner, get some sleep and run a few tests in the morning. The tests conclude that those birds were right: penguins cannot fly. But what if ....

Determined, the pair set up a training program, study books about flying, and put together some interesting (and downright hilarious) ideas on how to get the penguin flying again. They practice and try every hair-brained idea they come up with: penguin arrow, penguin rocket, penguin kite, penguin catapult. No dice. Until one day, a penguin colony flies overhead. And the penguin effortlessly joins them.

You can do anything you believe you are capable of, and don't let any naysayers tell you any different. Believe in yourself and you can fly with the penguins! I wish all life lessons were delivered like this, as funny ideas with fabulous illustrations. This is simply a brilliant book.

I found this book in the picture book section of my library while working as a page. Often when shelving picture books, I couldn't help but thumb through a few interesting-looking ones. I saw this small, unassuming book and decided to see why the penguin was tied to a kite. I laughed out loud as I read it there in the stacks. It immediately became one of my favorites. I showed it to my co-workers and they loved it too. Took it home to show my family. Since then the copy at our library has been reported lost. I suspect a patron just loved it too much to turn it back in. The deadpan humor is perfect and the ending is quirky and sweet, but definitely not sugary. I plan to get myself a copy.

I love this book. It has a good moral without being overly preachy or trite, it is really funny, and the illustrations are awesome. I'd say more, but thats all that needs to be said.

Beautiful in its simplicity. Funny, clever, and inspirational. It was a finalist for the picture book category of the Cybil awards.

we have still not received this item (5 weeks now)despite assurance from seller (Winston Bookstore) a new copy was being sent "express" 4 working days ago! we did receive all other books directly from Amazon, in two shipments, so I'm pretty sure I gave our correct address with the order (we are on file at Amazon and are long-time users of this site). But I have learned now to keep track of outside vendors to avoid in future.