Gary, a grounded racing pigeon, dreams of exploring the world—until the day he falls into an adventure of his very own.Most of the time, Gary is just like the other racing pigeons, eating and sleeping and dreaming of adventure. There’s just one thing that separates him from the ordinary pigeons: he can’t fly. When his friends set off in their travel basket, Gary expects to stay at home, organizing his scrapbook of travel mementos and imagining far-off places. But when he accidentally falls into the travel basket and ends up a very long way from home, he discovers that flying might not be the only way to have adventures. Leila Rudge, in her gentle, colorful style, is sure to charm anyone who has ever felt like the odd one out with this satisfying story of perseverance and being comfortable in your own skin.
Leila Rudge was born in England and received a degree in illustration from Bath University. She is the author-illustrator of
A Perfect Place for Ted and the illustrator of
No Bears and
Duck for a Day, both
written
by Meg McKinlay. She now lives in Australia.
Text and illustrations work together to create a meaningful story that's playful and fun...Thoughtful compositions keep eyes moving across spreads, offering readers the sensation of traveling. This convivial and gentle story about differences is a needed addition to collections about challenging the norm or upending physical expectations.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Gary proves a savvy and resourceful bird, and it’s refreshing to see his character embrace adventure rather than simply wish for the ability to fly.
—Booklist
The artwork is endearing...Parents, teachers, and librarians will love the message that it’s OK to be different. A solid choice for a storytime or one-on-one sharing.
—School Library Journal
This story passes with flying colors—a charmer through and through.
—BookPage
