Review by Unique Ego -- Peter and the Parachute

[Unique Ego]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Peter and the Parachute" by Nicola Ridgeway and James Manning.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever been afraid to do something you should naturally be good at? Fear to take the first step can be crippling if you keep dwelling on all the ways that things could go wrong. Peter and the Parachute by Nicola Ridgeway and James Manning is a wonderful, kid-friendly reminder that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Peter is a golden brown eagle that is becoming too big for his nest. Despite his parent's encouragement, he refuses to fly the coop because he doesn't believe he is strong enough. He even has a parachute permanently strapped to his back to prevent him from plummeting to the ground. Throughout the story, a few other characters—including his uncle, Apollo, and cousin, Venus—are introduced to help Peter with his struggle. Peter's journey is one that will spark inspiration and motivate kids to take action to be the best they can be.

The authors took their time with the details they included in this story. The most significant detail that caught my attention was Peter and the parachute he always had on him. It was as intriguing as it was puzzling. Why would an eagle—the most powerful bird on the planet—need a parachute? These seemingly incompatible elements—an eagle and a parachute—worked together seamlessly to portray the extent of Peter's doubt in his innate abilities. Essentially, Peter had the wings of an eagle but the mental strength of a chicken.

I also loved that the authors were able to flesh out a full five chapters from such a straightforward storyline. The additional characters in the book served to give more meat to Peter's experience without feeling like fluff. This helped slow down the book enough for me to soak in the story and glean from its lessons. It was the best part of this tale for me. I like that this book also incorporated some insight into the life of an eagle. This is something I'm sure every kid would enjoy.

I enjoyed the illustrations in the story; they were detailed and had a rich texture. I could see almost everything described in the story reflected in the drawings. Well, almost everything. My only problem with the drawings was that all the eagles looked the same and were drawn to nearly the same scale. Apart from Peter with his parachute and Ace that was a darker shade of brown, I couldn't tell the other eagles apart by simple visual observation. Instead, I needed the story to guide me for that purpose.

Peter and the Parachute was a really short read, and I enjoyed every page. I found no grammatical issues, which means that the book was impeccably edited. I gladly rate it 4 out of 4 stars due to its editing and the level of detail in the story. I would recommend this story to any child who has ever questioned his/her ability at any point. Of course, they should read this book with proper guidance from a teacher, parent, or guardian.

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Peter and the Parachute
View: on Bookshelves | on Smashwords

[Raluca_Mihaila]

A lovely book with an important message, especially for the young minds. Great job with the review!

[Justine Ocsebio]

I have read this book as well and I agree, it really is a wonderful story with an important message to tell. I enjoyed reading your review.

[AnnOgochukwu]

This sounds like a lovely little book with some values to teach. There couldn't be a more ironical picture than that of an eagle with a parachute.
I enjoyed reading your review, you write really well.

[michelle_cronje97]

I have not yet had the honour to read this book. But I am sure hoping to do so very soon.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

A nice book which can be used to instill self confidence into young children. Thanks for the nice and descriptive review

[Harty Muli]

I appreciate a story of encouragement for the little kids. Thankyou for the wonderful review.

[Dominik_G]

The message of this little book is so important: we shouldn't be afraid to take steps and go for things we've never tried before. We might end up realizing we're good at them! Thank you for your great review!

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a good book for kids to help them appreciate their own skills. Thank you for your great review!

[Ellylion]

I enjoyed this book so much and the illustration were just outstanding. A must-read for kid, in my opinion Thanks for a great review!

[Saint Bruno]

Lovely and fascinating book to get for the kids. I like its message. Thanks for the insightful review and recommendation.

[Eutoc]

I truly wonder if Peter was able to take the leap and attempt a flight. This book is really perfect for encouraging kids.

[Sou Hi]

Thanks for your meaningful review. It seems the parachute is a symbol of Peter's mental weakness. While flying is natural to birds like breathing, this eagle actually struggles for that. And it's not like he is physically defective or something, he is just stalled by his mindset. I think this book is not only useful for children but adults also are able to learn some lessons from this story.

[Nqobile Mashinini Tshabalala]

With the necessary support and love, children can achieve a whole lot! Great review.