Official Review: Peter and the Parachute
Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 11:13
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Peter and the Parachute" by Nicola Ridgeway and James Manning.]
Peter and the Parachute is a children's book by Nicola Ridgeway and James Manning that tells the story of a golden eagle named Peter. Peter has shed his baby feathers and knows that it will soon be time for him to leave the nest. However, Peter is worried; he doesn't know how to fly, and he is not sure if he will be able to when the time comes. For safety, Peter dons a parachute to protect him so that he will not get hurt. Though he is scared of what is yet to come in his future, he receives visits from several other golden eagles who give him words of encouragement for what it means to be an eagle, confident and capable of flying out of the nest.
This short chapter book is accompanied by the illustrations of Irena Urosevic and is best suited for young children (age 6-9) who are a bit frightened of taking risks. The chapters are short, no more than a couple of pages each, with large print and wide-spacing to make for easier reading. The pictures of Peter wearing a parachute strapped to his back are unique and absolutely adorable.
The symbolic message within this story is one that we are all familiar with, and you can probably guess how the story will end. It's a typical coming-of-age story that demonstrates to children that they have to take risks and do things on their own without their parents' help. Children who have difficulties with self-confidence will easily relate to young Peter, who has cleverly come up with a solution to his problem. His parachute serves as a sort of comfort object, like a binky or security blanket, which can provide an additional message about needing to let go of things that make us feel safe in order to properly experience the world around us.
Overall, I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. It's definitely a cute read that would be a good tool to use for helping a child develop self-confidence skills and overcome risk-aversion. However, I just found it a little bit too predictable and cliché to give it a perfect rating.
There are lots of other books out there about birds leaving the nest, and the parachute in this one is really the only thing that makes it unique. If a little bit more of the story had been about the parachute and less about Peter's ability to fly out of the nest, I probably would have found it a bit more entertaining and unique. It's not going to cure a child's low self-confidence, but I would still recommend the book for parents or therapists who are looking for another tool for providing examples of how being confident can be fun and enjoyable.
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Peter and the Parachute
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Peter and the Parachute is a children's book by Nicola Ridgeway and James Manning that tells the story of a golden eagle named Peter. Peter has shed his baby feathers and knows that it will soon be time for him to leave the nest. However, Peter is worried; he doesn't know how to fly, and he is not sure if he will be able to when the time comes. For safety, Peter dons a parachute to protect him so that he will not get hurt. Though he is scared of what is yet to come in his future, he receives visits from several other golden eagles who give him words of encouragement for what it means to be an eagle, confident and capable of flying out of the nest.
This short chapter book is accompanied by the illustrations of Irena Urosevic and is best suited for young children (age 6-9) who are a bit frightened of taking risks. The chapters are short, no more than a couple of pages each, with large print and wide-spacing to make for easier reading. The pictures of Peter wearing a parachute strapped to his back are unique and absolutely adorable.
The symbolic message within this story is one that we are all familiar with, and you can probably guess how the story will end. It's a typical coming-of-age story that demonstrates to children that they have to take risks and do things on their own without their parents' help. Children who have difficulties with self-confidence will easily relate to young Peter, who has cleverly come up with a solution to his problem. His parachute serves as a sort of comfort object, like a binky or security blanket, which can provide an additional message about needing to let go of things that make us feel safe in order to properly experience the world around us.
Overall, I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. It's definitely a cute read that would be a good tool to use for helping a child develop self-confidence skills and overcome risk-aversion. However, I just found it a little bit too predictable and cliché to give it a perfect rating.
There are lots of other books out there about birds leaving the nest, and the parachute in this one is really the only thing that makes it unique. If a little bit more of the story had been about the parachute and less about Peter's ability to fly out of the nest, I probably would have found it a bit more entertaining and unique. It's not going to cure a child's low self-confidence, but I would still recommend the book for parents or therapists who are looking for another tool for providing examples of how being confident can be fun and enjoyable.
******
Peter and the Parachute
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
