Wings [Paperback]

Jane Yolen (Author), Dennis Nolan (Illustrator)

Book Description

The Greek myth of Daedalus and his son, Icarus, whose wax wings melt when he flies too close to the sun, is retold with wisdom and beauty by one of America's premier storytellers. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As important as it is to aim high, ancient mythology reminds us that we must never confuse ourselves with the gods. Only disaster can come of showing too much skill at godly pursuits like creating-- or flying. But poor old Daedalus just can't get past his aspirations to fly. Jane Yolen's version of the story of Daedalus and his son, Icarus, is lyric and foreboding, and Dennis Nolan's shadowy renderings of the omnipresent deities are a particularly haunting accompaniment to this ancient tale of pride and tragedy. (Ages 6 to10)

From Publishers Weekly

Yolen is in top form here in this polished, ardent retelling of the tragic Greek legend of Daedalus and his son Icarus. Banished from his beloved Athens for killing his nephew, the proud craftsman and inventor Daedalus finally lands on the island of Crete, where he designs the famed labyrinth in which the Minotaur is imprisoned. King Minos is enraged when Daedalus aids in killing the cruel beast and has him confined in a tower. Daedalus escapes with his son on wings made of bird feathers and wax, but the hapless boy plunges to his death. Yolen's elegant prose ("wingtip to wingtip they flew, writing the lines of their escape on the air") is matched by Nolan's sophisticated watercolors that, like the legend itself, provocatively blend reality and fantasy: as the story of Daedalus unfolds in the foreground, cloudlike gods look on from above. Beautifully printed on heavy, cream-colored stock, the book is as much a tactile treat as a visual and literary one. All ages.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books (J) (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152015671
• ISBN-13: 978-0152015671
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,293,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother. Active in several organizations, Yolen has been on the Board of Directors of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, was president of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1986 to 1988, is on the editorial board of several magazines, and was a founding member of the Western New England Storytellers Guild, the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild, and the Bay State Writers Guild. For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer's workshop for new children's book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that "throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration--folk culture." Folklore is the "perfect second skin," writes Yolen. "From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world." Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen's stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self. The Emperor and the Kite, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1983 for its intricate papercut illustrations by Ed Young, was based on Yolen's relationship with her late father, who was an international kite-flying champion. Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal for John Schoenherr's exquisite watercolors, was inspired by her husband's interest in birding. Yolen's graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society's Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children's Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille. With a versatility that has led her to be called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself: "I don't care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, May 2, 2000

By 

Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairy Tales.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Wings (Paperback)

This rendition of Daedalus and Icarus cemented this tale as one of my favorites in mythology. Yolen, as always, tells the story for young and old so all may enjoy it. Nolan's illustrations help me understand why Icarus wants to fly so high into the beautiful sky. I recommend this book for anyone wanting a good story, especially if you are fascinated by mythology.