Macurova, Katarina. Teaching Eddie to Fly. Katarina Macurova, Illus. Translated from Czech by Andrew Oakland. Albatros, 04/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $14.95. 978-8-0000-7077-3. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.
Originally published in the Czech Republic, this cute picture book follows Arthur, a bear, as he tries to teach Eddie, a large flightless bird, how to fly. A series of experiments don’t help to get Eddie off the ground but finally they discover together that Eddie can run as fast as other birds fly. Arthur exclaims, “Your legs are so quick you don’t need to fly!” right before he suggests, “I should teach you how to swim instead.” With relatively simple and repetitive language printed one or two sentences to a page, this book is suitable for reading aloud as well as for emerging readers who are ready to practice reading on their own. The drawings of Arthur and Eddie’s attempts at flying are laugh-out-loud funny.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District