Flight of the Dodo

by Peter Brown

When Penguin gets pooped on by a goose flying by, he becomes more determined than ever to learn to fly. So, with the help of his other flightless friends (aka the Waddlers), the foursome builds a flying machine that takes them on an adventure like none they've ever known.

With a cast of quirky, can-do characters that young readers are sure to love, Flight of the Dodo is a comic adventure story about the desire to fly, the persistence to dream big, and poop!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Birds, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books.

"Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.

After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.

Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.

Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York."

Source: About Peter Brown.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for kids who are at the ages when poop is funny and/or fascinating. There are a lot of poop jokes in here.

I suspect that certain children are liable to go into fits of the giggles over this book.

It’s also effective as a story that talks about taking risks, solving problems, and about helping friends too.

Some of the pictures are hilarious. After the dodo (what looks like a hot air balloon with a passenger basket) lands, the image of the waddler (non-flying bird) lying prostrate on the ground after its experience flying is quite amusing.

So, is this really the same Peter Brown who wrote The Curious Garden? If so, they’re entirely different type books, except for the nature angle I guess.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts with some goose poop, and ends with a small group of flightless birds soaring through the clouds.



A sweet, fun story, and, I believe, the only children's book I've read that features a cassowary.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this the way I did Brown's other books, but it appears to have been his first, and for a debut I think it was well done. Also, it will probably resonate more with certain kids; I was never impressed by poop at any age.

My favorite scene was the illustration near the end, where the geese are in a classroom and the Waddlers are drawing diagrams of flying contraptions on the chalkboard.

Will definitely pick up more by this author.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a passing goose poops right on him one morning, Penguin decides that he has had enough! He and his fellow Waddlers - flightless birds like Ostrich, Kiwi, and Cassowary - are going to show those Flappers (flying birds) what's what! And so begins the quest to fly, leading to the creation of the Dodo. But when their maiden voyage sees them in serious trouble, and a flock of geese come to their rescue, Penguin and his friends realize that they still have a lot to learn...

After reading and enjoying Peter Brown's recent The Curious Garden , I am not surprised that I liked this earlier work as well. Both narrative and artwork are humorous and heartwarming, and have great appeal. Given the popularity of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants series, and the Walter the Farting DogYoung Reader books, I suspect that the "precision pooping" in this one will have young readers giggling. Brown's acrylic and pencil illustrations are colorful and engaging, accentuating the humor of the tale, and the wonder of flight. An all-around winner, perfect for story-time!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is SO funny! Penguin is out for a stroll when, splat!, something lands on his shoulder. He looks up to see a goose flying by and yells, "For crying out loud! If I could FLY at least I would watch where I pooped!" And he decides that maybe it is time for the Waddlers (flightless birds) to take to the skies at last! I kept grinning throughout the rest of this very funny, thoughtful and imaginative tale. I think kids would be ga-ga over this one.

I also loved Brown's The Curious Garden which is not in the same style (I mean, there's no bird poo and none of the penguin's hilarious antics!) but indescribably beautiful. He is now on my authors-to-watch list! :-)

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO fun!

Okay, yes, at first it seems like it's a story about bird doo. However, it's quickly apparent that the story is about so much more! It's about working hard to achieve your dreams, over coming challenges, cooperation. What's more, I was starting to fret when our hero, Penguin, starting acting rather snobbish and rude. But lo! Such actions did not go without their consequences!

This is a delightful little book, and children will surely thrill at the jokes and illustrations.

[Liz Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd love to talk to Peter Brown more about this book! Such imagination--it was a fun read. Beautifully written and would be a wonderful read-aloud for school. Caedmon loved the bird poop references, as did I. :) Great story of friendship and also about not giving up. 6 stars, if I could.

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations, but the story is a bit weird.

[Robin Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The birds that can't fly- the "waddlers" which are penguin, ostrich, kiwi, and cassowary. Set in Australia obviously. Should have included the Kakapo!
Penguin keeps getting pooped on by flying geese- the "flappers" who are birds that fly

Penguin is jealous that they can fly, and he can't fly.
So Penguin gathers his waddler non flying friends and they build a flying contraption made of a basket 🧺, giant balloon and a fan. They then go on a flying adventure, but then get into trouble when caught in a scary storm.

Turns out the geese come to save them, and afterwards they are all friends. They then decide to work together and learn about flying.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reminded of the cheaper by the dozen movie line "funny, but wrong." This book was hilarious, but it definitely had some inappropriate bathroom humor. I suppose when the first page has a penguin getting pooped on by a goose, you know what you're getting yourself into.

Penguin and his other book-flying bird friends join up and invent a flying machine, but some birds just aren't meant to fly. I really enjoyed the chalkboard at the end with the "penguin does not equal toilet equation." Got a chuckle out of that.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Curious Gardener I decided to see what else Brown had written & this turned out to be his first children's book. Cute story about non-flying birds who get fed up with never having a `bird's eye view' & figure out a way to get themselves aloft. But it was the details in the illustrations - the worm sandwich, the kiwi clutching the goose's legs after getting safely back to earth - that made this delightful

[Tim Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chomp the Baby Gator enjoyed this whimsical and adventurous story about overcoming challenges.

Along with his flightless friends—an ostrich, a kiwi, and a cassowary—they build a contraption to help them soar. Despite numerous setbacks and comical failures, the friends’ persistence and teamwork lead to an unexpected and delightful adventure. Chomp liked how the characters identified their shortcomings and used their imagination to help them overcome their challenges.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to see the Waddlers and the Flappers come together, and learn from each other. Is there a deeper meaning in this? Maybe . . . And little boys should listen, since there is quite a lot of poop involved.

[T Crockett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big Peter Brown fan, but you can tell this was his first book. It doesn't have the "it factor" that many of his later books have. Kids would probably have fun with the fact that the action begins with one bird being pooped on by another bird.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough poop bombs to keep little boys happy.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about perseverance and determination.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too funny!

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 2 out of 5]

If your kids like talking about poop, this is the book for them!

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un album humoristique et invraisemblable qui nous amène à découvrir les oiseaux qui ne volent pas et à les suivre dans cette palpitante aventure qu'est la découverte de l'inconnu!

[Ian McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precisely placed poop. Made Daddy and Florence laugh.

[Audrey Widjaja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy and love this book! first time i learnt about those flappers (birds that can fly) and waddler (birds that cannot fly), like Penguin, Kiwi, Ostrich, cassowary.

[Oxalis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mistakenly picked this book up hoping to find a dodo character in the story, but alas, the Dodo was the name of their airship.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. A fairly extensive amount of talk about poop for a book about flying and friendship, but entertaining. Cute illustrations.

[Shakira · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with Mr. Brown's works, it's unique & cute!

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading age
4 - 7 year

Was a cute book about two types of birds, waddlers and flyers. As the Waddlers learn to fly they soon realize that it's not as easy as they thought.

[Alicia Farmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rich illustrations with fun perspectives. I didn't like the story at all.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Lots of talk about birds pooping on other birds.

[Peter Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Peter Brown’s stories and pictures so much!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about the "waddlers" a.k.a. four flightless birds. Penguin, cassowary, ostrich and kiwi who want to learn how to fly. This all started when penguin got pooped on by a goose flying by right above him and he decided to rally his friends together to experience the thrill of flying. They make some failed attempts at flying contraptions before they create the "dodo" which is basically a hot air balloon. The four birds enjoy their afternoon of flight doing many things they couldn't before, until a storm hits and they find themselves stuck in the air. They must get the geese to come to their aid, but how? You'll never guess.

This book is appropriate for ages 4+

I found myself laughing out loud at a few of these pages and I'm glad I check it out. Any kid will enjoy this silly story with some unexpected twists. I'm not sure I would use it in a classroom setting, but I would recommend it as a free time read.