Fledgling

by Robert J. Blake

When a young kestrel makes her first flight among the buildings of a bustling city, there is much excitement and danger as she is pursued by a hawk. By the creator of A Tale from the Iditarod.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Childrens, Animals, New York

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

My students are certainly game, but they had a rough time concealing their disappointment in this book. We used it to kick off this month's themed-based unit called "Standing up for what you believe in." I think they're spoiled by the meatier books we've been reading, because although they were pleased to learn more about falcons and hawks living in the city, at the end of the book, the general consensus was "that was it?" My students also spent a good deal of time debating whether this book was fiction or nonfiction (it's fiction, but realistic fiction based on actual falcons living in Brooklyn).

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and simple book about a young falcons first flight over Brooklyn and Coney Island. Interestingly enough the front cover has some pre-2001 imagery of New York. At the back of the book it says that as a young boy the author often wondered what it would feel like to be a bird taking your first flight. It is an intriguing notion. I'm sure all of us have watched a bird in flight and wondered how it must feel, is it really joyous to be lifted up into the heavens by a warm current of air? It sure looks it sometimes. I'd never personally wondered about a birds first flight- are they nervous? I really don't know. Robert J Blake thinks they are. The young falcon encounters some dangers, but we see his confidence grow during his maiden flight.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is amazing!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bird finds some unique places to hide from a predator while in the city. Preschool and up

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet story about a little bird learning to fly and overcoming his fears in the process. The illustrations were really beautiful too.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We recently read Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman and we really enjoyed learning about a red-tailed hawk who became famous for making his home in New York City. While searching for similar books, I came across this one. It's a nicely illustrated tail of a young kestrel learning to fly in New York City.

While the two books are similar, this story is for a much younger audience. With a short, spare narrative and lots of colorful, detailed illustrations, young children will enjoy tracking the bird's adventurous first flight. I enjoyed reading the author's note at the end of the story and I really would've liked to read more. I guess I prefer the first book, simply for the story it tells. Still, we enjoyed reading this book together.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how the books starts out with the fledgling learning to fly. It reminded me of watching a little boy learning to ice skate - he was told "we have to fall so we can practice getting up."

As the story goes on it's more about the fledgling exploring the big city. I appreciated the artwork and the story more after reading the note from the author in the back. I think birds in big cities are sometimes just seen as pests, but I think it's pretty amazing that they survive in those conditions, and that they provide a glimpse of nature amidst busy big city life.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author/illustrator has a note at the back of the book that says he spent a ton of time studying falcons to make this book. For all that, I didn't feel I learned anything particular about falcons and the text isn't very catchy.

[Dov Zeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fledgling kestrel tries their first flight in New York and has some city adventures. Stylistically this wasn't really for me, but it seems like a great book for beginning readers and kids who are interested in kestrels and other raptors (the kestrel has a run-in with a hawk.)

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved the artwork and my boys enjoyed the idea of a young bird growing up.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A falcon in a city learns to fly. The text is so limited, we learn more about falcons from the end note, but the art work of line drawn watercolors is engaging.

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Notes:
artwork is beautiful, but story is too simplistic