From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-When Sam and his father embark on a day of kite flying, the boy repeatedly asks to hold the string, but is told that he is too little. As the kite gathers strength, it carries off first his father and then many unsuspecting people who happen to be in its path-including a bank robber, a bride and groom, a postman, and a policeman on a horse. Sam is told by all in a repeated refrain: "No, you're too small/-This kite needs/someone bigger." Finally, the child proves his worth by seizing the string and winding the kite and all of the hangers-on to safety. Reynolds's colorful watercolor cartoons depict the bouncy adventure, which is told in singsong verses. Sam sums it up with, "I'm not too small, and as you see,/this kite needs someone/JUST/LIKE/ME!" Young readers will appreciate the boy's predicament and love the fact that, despite his small stature, he saves the day. A great choice for storytime and one-on-one sharing.
G. Alyssa Parkinson, Highland Township Library, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PreS-Gr. 1. Sam and his dad take their homemade kite out on a windy day to give it a try. Sam pleads with Dad to let him hold it, but Dad says, "No, you're too small! This kite needs someone bigger." Then, as Sam watches, Dad is pulled into the sky. A postman, a bank robber, a policeman riding on a horse, a bridegroom ("and his bride, of course") try to pull the kite down, but are swooped up right along with Dad. At every turn, Sam's efforts to help are met with the refrain, "This kite needs someone bigger." Reynolds takes full advantage of the slapstick nature of the story, matching the silliness with humorous watercolor scenes, often shown from unusual aerial perspectives, depicting astonished people on the ground watching as a growing parade of humans and animals dangle from the kite string. Of course, Sam proves in the end that he is big enough to handle the kite, and kids will cheer his heroics. The catchy rhymes and colorful art make this a good choice for a spring storytime.
Lauren PetersonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
