Look up into the starry sky on the night of the full moon and you'll see...a bird? A plane? No...a little boy!
Eight-year-old Mary Bird has discovered a secret: her four-year-old brother Billy can fly! Floating around his room is bad enough, but when he takes off out an open window, Mary's sure disaster isn't far behind. She may be right!
This whimsical, satisfying, young middle-grade fantasy by Dick King-Smith is filled with action, adventure, and lovable talking animals.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Dick King-Smith is the author of several highly acclaimed books for young readers, including the modern classic: Babe, the Gallant Pig; and The Cuckoo Child.
This slender tale features King-Smith's (Babe, the Gallant Pig; Spider Sparrow) signature talking animals and gentle humor, but falls shy of his usual standards. Mary Bird is eight the summer she discovers that her little brother can fly. On Friday, June 20, "I looked up, and there I saw Billy--his nose, his tummy, and his toes touching the ceiling. He wasn't walking in his sleep, he was floating in it!" With the help of her guinea pig and cat (both of which can talk), Mary deduces that Billy can defy gravity only during a full moon. One August night, Billy--who has no recollection of his feats the morning after--actually makes it out his window, swooping through the night sky. So begins a series of mild adventures--including a cat burglar who gets his comeuppance when an "alien" (Billy) attacks him--until a lunar eclipse grounds Billy for good. King-Smith makes some slapstick jokes about the situation ("Goodness, how time flies," remarks their mother concerning the late hour, "And that's not the only thing that's been flying," says Mary to herself), and younger readers ready to test their wings on a short novel should find the story engaging. But the novel jumps from one of Billy's flights to the next, without much character development or description of daily life. Fans of King-Smith's more substantial fare may wish this one were a bit more meaty. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR003443711
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Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003371872
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Seller: Harry Righton, Evesham, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. no dustjacket. illustrated bds. 1st edition, 1st impression. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book. Seller Inventory # 501639
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Excellent clean condition. Inscription on front endpaper. No tears or loss. Carefully read. Seller Inventory # 029130
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Seller: Stella & Rose's Books, PBFA, Tintern, MON, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Eastwood, John (illustrator). First edition. 1st 2000. Very good condition with no wrapper. Mary's little brother Billy seems perfectly normal, until one moonlit evening Mary finds him floating above his bed. Pictorial glazed boards. B/w illustrations. Small knocks to top and tail of spine. Pale foxing to endpapers and outer page edges. Packaged with care and promptly dispatched!. Seller Inventory # 2135466
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