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Gary
Gary, a grounded racing pigeon, dreams of exploring the world—until the day he falls into an adventure of his very own.
Most of the time, Gary is just like the other racing pigeons, eating and sleeping and dreaming of adventure. There’s just one thing that separates him from the ordinary pigeons: he can’t fly. When his friends set off in their travel basket, Gary expects to stay at home, organizing his scrapbook of travel mementos and imagining far-off places. But when he accidentally falls into the travel basket and ends up a very long way from home, he discovers that flying might not be the only way to have adventures. Leila Rudge, in her gentle, colorful style, is sure to charm anyone who has ever felt like the odd one out with this satisfying story of perseverance and being comfortable in your own skin.
Most of the time, Gary is just like the other racing pigeons, eating and sleeping and dreaming of adventure. There’s just one thing that separates him from the ordinary pigeons: he can’t fly. When his friends set off in their travel basket, Gary expects to stay at home, organizing his scrapbook of travel mementos and imagining far-off places. But when he accidentally falls into the travel basket and ends up a very long way from home, he discovers that flying might not be the only way to have adventures. Leila Rudge, in her gentle, colorful style, is sure to charm anyone who has ever felt like the odd one out with this satisfying story of perseverance and being comfortable in your own skin.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Leila Rudge
20 books8 followersI was born in England and spent my first few years making mud pies with three sisters, two brothers and Jeni from number 15. Not long after completing an Illustration Degree at Bath Spa University, I jumped on a plane to Australia in search of the sunshine.
In 2009, I illustrated my first children’s book Duck for a Day, which was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award - Younger Reader’s category. No Bears, my second collaboration with Meg Mckinlay also popped up on the shortlist in the Picture Book of the Year and Early Childhood categories of the 2012 CBCA awards. The sequel to Duck for a Day, Definitely No Ducks was released in early 2013 alongside Ted, my first solo project.
My work is a mixture of pencil, paint, paper and any other bits and bobs found in my studio… I love adding collage to my illustrations and often spend far too long searching through magazines for the perfect colours and patterns…
In 2009, I illustrated my first children’s book Duck for a Day, which was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award - Younger Reader’s category. No Bears, my second collaboration with Meg Mckinlay also popped up on the shortlist in the Picture Book of the Year and Early Childhood categories of the 2012 CBCA awards. The sequel to Duck for a Day, Definitely No Ducks was released in early 2013 alongside Ted, my first solo project.
My work is a mixture of pencil, paint, paper and any other bits and bobs found in my studio… I love adding collage to my illustrations and often spend far too long searching through magazines for the perfect colours and patterns…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 6, 2017
Most of the time, Gary was just like the other racing pigeons.
He ate the same seeds.
Slept in the same loft.
And dreamed of adventure.
This is a cute little story. Gary is a racing pigeon who can't fly. When the pigeons are put in a basket and taken into the city on race day, Gary stays home and organizes his scrapbook. It's a scrapbook about traveling.
He had a collection of travel mementos from everywhere
Except Gary had never been anywhere. Because Gary couldn't fly.
When the racing pigeons return, they always discuss the day: wind directions, flight paths, waypoints. Gary listens attentively in joy and records everything in his scrapbook.
One night, Gary tips and falls into the racing basket accidentally with his heavy scrapbook.
And so he is taken to the city on race day. The racing pigeons explode out of the basket. But Gary is left alone - unable to take flight.
Soon the other pigeons were dots in the distance.
They were flying back to the loft.
Gary wondered if he would ever find a way home.
Or if he would be lost in the city forever.
We see Gary perched on the basket amidst the skyscrapers, looking forlornly at his flying friends getting smaller and smaller in the distance.
Gary opens his scrapbook. This makes him feel better.
Before long, Gary had plotted his own way back to the loft.
Gary arrives back home with all sorts of new travel mementos and a great story for his friends.
Gary couldn't fly. But Gary had been everywhere!
The book ends with this:
Most of the time, Gary is just like the other racing pigeons.
He eats the same seeds.
Sleeps in the same loft.
And dreams of adventure.
But on some days...
We turn the page and see a dozen pigeons riding the city bus with humans.
...the other pigeons are just like Gary.
EL FIN.
Okay. Let's discuss this.
I liked this story. Gary isn't like the others. He is a pigeon who can't fly. While the other pigeons get to go to the city and have adventures, Gary is stuck at home. He eagerly listens to all their stories and takes notes and keeps a scrapbook. He dreams of travel, but those dreams are (at first glance) in vain.
Is Rudge illustrating someone with a disability here? I don't know.
But when circumstances allow Gary to go to the city, Gary fights his panic and draws deep inside himself to find the courage and innovative thinking to allow himself to get home.
In this way, he gains confidence and also gets to have an adventure story of his own.
To top it all off, we see the other pigeons occasionally doing things his way in order to have fun and see the world a different way - and allowing them and Gary to travel together.
THE PROS:
- Just because you don't have a physical ability that everyone else has, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the things others enjoy. You can find creative ways to do the same thing.
- You can turn a frightening situation into one where you solve the problem and end up not only being proud of yourself for your creative abilities and brains, but ALSO have a great story to tell everyone when you get home.
Most children get separated from their parents at some point in their lives, this might be a good time to slip in a little, casual reminder of what to do when separated from your caretaker.
- Gary feels panicked but calms himself down and thinks logically. This helps him get home safely.
- This has opened up a whole world Gary thought was closed off to him - the world of travel.
- Gary's friends and colleagues think Gary's way of traveling is fun to do and choose to accompany him on future trips, making him less isolated from his peers than he was before.
- Another great 'city' picture book for children. If you live in the city, are raising kids in the city - this is a great 'city' book to read them which highlights the fun and joy of living in The Big City.
- Amazing illustrations, very charming.
THE CONS
- Gary didn't seize his dreams and go out to have an adventure on his own, it was a complete accident. The result is still great, but the book does not use this opportunity to show initiative.
However, it's often true that we discover great things about ourselves and about life after being thrust into an uncomfortable or frightening situation, so I almost can't count this as a con. The book is realistically showing this true aspect of life.
- I don't know anything about racing pigeons. But would the humans not notice that Gary is in the basket? Would they just abandon the empty basket on the rooftop as shown in this book? I doubt it.
- The book shows Gary getting off the bus at his loft, greeted by his friends and colleagues. However, the book skips over the WHOLE way Gary got home. We really have no idea how he did it. The book would be 10x better if Gary was shown getting around the city - walking down the stairs of the skyscraper, getting out the front door, finding or buying a bus ticket, giving it to the bus driver.... etc. etc. That way the children could see Gary's adventure and see his creativity and ingenuity in getting home despite his impediment of not being able to fly. I think this would have pushed the book into five-star territory.
Tl;dr - I actually liked this charming book. I like how Gary is resigned to listening and recording others' adventures because he is a pigeon who can't fly. But when he accidentally gets thrust into a scary and uncomfortable situation, he finds out that he has resources deep within himself that can help him do things he never thought possible.
But Rudge isn't pushing a message about disabled people here - the whole thing is super subtle and I may even be reaching on this one. YMMV.
I also like that Gary's way of doing things is liked and appreciated by his friends, who adapt this style occasionally for romps around the city with Gary - romps Gary can finally accompany them on. Instead of dreaming about having adventures, Gary is now having regular adventures of his own.
THE END PAGES:
He ate the same seeds.
Slept in the same loft.
And dreamed of adventure.
This is a cute little story. Gary is a racing pigeon who can't fly. When the pigeons are put in a basket and taken into the city on race day, Gary stays home and organizes his scrapbook. It's a scrapbook about traveling.
He had a collection of travel mementos from everywhere
Except Gary had never been anywhere. Because Gary couldn't fly.
When the racing pigeons return, they always discuss the day: wind directions, flight paths, waypoints. Gary listens attentively in joy and records everything in his scrapbook.
One night, Gary tips and falls into the racing basket accidentally with his heavy scrapbook.
And so he is taken to the city on race day. The racing pigeons explode out of the basket. But Gary is left alone - unable to take flight.
Soon the other pigeons were dots in the distance.
They were flying back to the loft.
Gary wondered if he would ever find a way home.
Or if he would be lost in the city forever.
We see Gary perched on the basket amidst the skyscrapers, looking forlornly at his flying friends getting smaller and smaller in the distance.
Gary opens his scrapbook. This makes him feel better.
Before long, Gary had plotted his own way back to the loft.
Gary arrives back home with all sorts of new travel mementos and a great story for his friends.
Gary couldn't fly. But Gary had been everywhere!
The book ends with this:
Most of the time, Gary is just like the other racing pigeons.
He eats the same seeds.
Sleeps in the same loft.
And dreams of adventure.
But on some days...
We turn the page and see a dozen pigeons riding the city bus with humans.
...the other pigeons are just like Gary.
EL FIN.
Okay. Let's discuss this.
I liked this story. Gary isn't like the others. He is a pigeon who can't fly. While the other pigeons get to go to the city and have adventures, Gary is stuck at home. He eagerly listens to all their stories and takes notes and keeps a scrapbook. He dreams of travel, but those dreams are (at first glance) in vain.
Is Rudge illustrating someone with a disability here? I don't know.
But when circumstances allow Gary to go to the city, Gary fights his panic and draws deep inside himself to find the courage and innovative thinking to allow himself to get home.
In this way, he gains confidence and also gets to have an adventure story of his own.
To top it all off, we see the other pigeons occasionally doing things his way in order to have fun and see the world a different way - and allowing them and Gary to travel together.
THE PROS:
- Just because you don't have a physical ability that everyone else has, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the things others enjoy. You can find creative ways to do the same thing.
- You can turn a frightening situation into one where you solve the problem and end up not only being proud of yourself for your creative abilities and brains, but ALSO have a great story to tell everyone when you get home.
Most children get separated from their parents at some point in their lives, this might be a good time to slip in a little, casual reminder of what to do when separated from your caretaker.
- Gary feels panicked but calms himself down and thinks logically. This helps him get home safely.
- This has opened up a whole world Gary thought was closed off to him - the world of travel.
- Gary's friends and colleagues think Gary's way of traveling is fun to do and choose to accompany him on future trips, making him less isolated from his peers than he was before.
- Another great 'city' picture book for children. If you live in the city, are raising kids in the city - this is a great 'city' book to read them which highlights the fun and joy of living in The Big City.
- Amazing illustrations, very charming.
THE CONS
- Gary didn't seize his dreams and go out to have an adventure on his own, it was a complete accident. The result is still great, but the book does not use this opportunity to show initiative.
However, it's often true that we discover great things about ourselves and about life after being thrust into an uncomfortable or frightening situation, so I almost can't count this as a con. The book is realistically showing this true aspect of life.
- I don't know anything about racing pigeons. But would the humans not notice that Gary is in the basket? Would they just abandon the empty basket on the rooftop as shown in this book? I doubt it.
- The book shows Gary getting off the bus at his loft, greeted by his friends and colleagues. However, the book skips over the WHOLE way Gary got home. We really have no idea how he did it. The book would be 10x better if Gary was shown getting around the city - walking down the stairs of the skyscraper, getting out the front door, finding or buying a bus ticket, giving it to the bus driver.... etc. etc. That way the children could see Gary's adventure and see his creativity and ingenuity in getting home despite his impediment of not being able to fly. I think this would have pushed the book into five-star territory.
Tl;dr - I actually liked this charming book. I like how Gary is resigned to listening and recording others' adventures because he is a pigeon who can't fly. But when he accidentally gets thrust into a scary and uncomfortable situation, he finds out that he has resources deep within himself that can help him do things he never thought possible.
But Rudge isn't pushing a message about disabled people here - the whole thing is super subtle and I may even be reaching on this one. YMMV.
I also like that Gary's way of doing things is liked and appreciated by his friends, who adapt this style occasionally for romps around the city with Gary - romps Gary can finally accompany them on. Instead of dreaming about having adventures, Gary is now having regular adventures of his own.
THE END PAGES:
December 8, 2016
It had potential, and I thought it would be quirky and enjoyable, but it felt like the middle of the story had been chopped out and left behind in the printing house. The book had a beginning and an end, but the interesting part — his journey home, how he managed it — was relegated to a two-page spread, when it would have done far better as the bulk of the book. The illustrations were engaging, but the story itself felt flat and lifeless. When he arrived home, my reaction was, "Wait, that's it?" The pacing was off, and no amount of quirky illustrations could compensate for that.
If I were reading the book to a child, we'd stop on the "journey home" spread for a while and I would come up with a comic narrative about what happened on the way back — what troubles beset him, how he overcame them, what the people on the train and the bus and the boat thought of a pigeon along for the ride. A savvy parent (or person-reading-to-child, into which category I would fall) could salvage the story that way, but anyone just reading through, trusting the book to carry itself on its own feet, is bound for disappointment.
If I were reading the book to a child, we'd stop on the "journey home" spread for a while and I would come up with a comic narrative about what happened on the way back — what troubles beset him, how he overcame them, what the people on the train and the bus and the boat thought of a pigeon along for the ride. A savvy parent (or person-reading-to-child, into which category I would fall) could salvage the story that way, but anyone just reading through, trusting the book to carry itself on its own feet, is bound for disappointment.
Read
January 19, 2018Review to come.
May 26, 2019
A pigeon named Gary.
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
May 21, 2017
I loved the artwork in this book, as well as the deeper theme behind the spirited racing pigeon who can't fly. That theme is that it doesn't matter if you're different or you can't do the same physical things your friends can. You're still capable of amazing things and of achieving things that set an example for others.
The writing is simple enough that slightly older children can attempt to read it on their own without too much frustration. Rudge has also done a good job of keeping both the writing style and the story interesting enough that adult readers won't be bored to tears when reading aloud. It's a fine balance to hit and, combined with the illustrations, Rudge has nailed it perfectly.
The writing is simple enough that slightly older children can attempt to read it on their own without too much frustration. Rudge has also done a good job of keeping both the writing style and the story interesting enough that adult readers won't be bored to tears when reading aloud. It's a fine balance to hit and, combined with the illustrations, Rudge has nailed it perfectly.
May 22, 2018
A cute, soft picture book about a pigeon, a racing pigeon. Though Gary won't do much flying, and I had to say I was definitely sad when we find out what is going on with Gary. At least he has a scrapbook (how does he even scrapbook, with his paws?) and he has his stories. From his friends, from what he heard around him. And then later his own journey when something happens, a scrapbooking accident so to say, and he has to use all his wits (and his scrapbook) to find the way back to his friends. I really loved Gary, and I was rooting for him, hoping he would have an adventure of his own, so he could fill the scrapbooks with his own souvenirs.
The art was pretty soft, and I quite like it.
The art was pretty soft, and I quite like it.
April 15, 2017
Cute picture book with a story about a pigeon called Gary who loved to create a travel scrap book but was unable to fly yet embarks on a wondrous adventure.. recommended to young readers in kindy or year 1. Noted on the CBCA list of reads for kids - many thanks to Walker Books Publishers for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest review. Blog to come soon!
November 19, 2021
I love Gary! He is the best pigeon! I love that he has his own style and buys bus tickets! Adorable.
February 22, 2023
Gary is a pigeon. Gary is not like the other pigeons. Gary gets lost. Gary finds his way home. Gary is awesome!
October 21, 2017
Aimed at ages 3 & up, Gary is a beautiful story about a racing pigeon that cannot fly.
Gary longs to go on adventures like all the other racing pigeons. One day after an accident leaves Gary far away from home and all alone, he must figure out how to make his way home without flight. Gary doesn’t give up and ends up overcoming his non-flight issues using his intellect. In the end Gary ends up having an epic adventure, the adventure of his dreams.
I found this book easy to read out loud, with the text flowing well. On the surface it is a seemly light and enjoyable story, but there are underlying messages of celebrating everyone’s differences, persevering to overcome obstacles and following your dreams.
The artwork is a delight to look at. The story (lettering) sits over the top of full colour images that take up the whole page.
If you have any young children in your life, Gary is one to keep an eye out for.
Gary longs to go on adventures like all the other racing pigeons. One day after an accident leaves Gary far away from home and all alone, he must figure out how to make his way home without flight. Gary doesn’t give up and ends up overcoming his non-flight issues using his intellect. In the end Gary ends up having an epic adventure, the adventure of his dreams.
I found this book easy to read out loud, with the text flowing well. On the surface it is a seemly light and enjoyable story, but there are underlying messages of celebrating everyone’s differences, persevering to overcome obstacles and following your dreams.
The artwork is a delight to look at. The story (lettering) sits over the top of full colour images that take up the whole page.
If you have any young children in your life, Gary is one to keep an eye out for.
August 9, 2016
So I think I need to read this one to a group of students to take the pulse of this book. I didn't really get this one, but at the same time, there's also that feeling bubbling up inside that I'm missing the point and I need a group of kids to help me figure it out (like my 8th graders did with Shaun Tan's RULES OF SUMMER).
February 19, 2016
Some days, I feel exactly like Gary.
A lovely picture book!
A lovely picture book!
August 2, 2016
Cute original story. The pictures are quaint. Did not expect the ending. My boys enjoyed it.
October 27, 2016
so good! maybe 4.5
December 4, 2016
Themes: travel, birds
January 12, 2017
Sch an original and clever story, with humor and heart.
January 28, 2017
The story lacked, but Gary was precious lol.
My dad races pigeons, so I was giggling the whole way through. Cute, but lacking.
My dad races pigeons, so I was giggling the whole way through. Cute, but lacking.
March 12, 2018
Gary has adventures in the city... we just don't get to see any of them. A cute concept that feels like it was edited til the story was missing.
Read
September 17, 2021This precious book by Leila Rudge tells the story of Gary the pigeon. Gary is not like every other pigeon because he can't fly. This becomes a problem for many reasons. First, the annual pigeon race is coming up and Gary wants to compete. Most importantly, Gary wants to be able to see the world and make lots of memories, that has been his dream. We are taken along Gary's journey as he finally finds a way not only to compete in the race but to travel and see the world just like he wanted to.
This was another great inspirational story teaching kids that even with limitations, you can still find a way to achieve your dreams. This story was silly but kept you wanting to know if Gary was able to see the world and rooting for him the whole time. I love inspirational stories like these with hidden meanings because it slips in a life lesson without making it super obvious and in a way that keeps the kids excited to read.
The illustrations in this story are not my favorite and I wasn't a fan of the color scheme either. I think the tone of the book is so lively and a fun story that it was too muted and bland for the story. I thought that the way the illustrator depicted Gary and the other pigeons were cool making them more realistic looking but I think that the illustrations would be boring to the kids.
This was another great inspirational story teaching kids that even with limitations, you can still find a way to achieve your dreams. This story was silly but kept you wanting to know if Gary was able to see the world and rooting for him the whole time. I love inspirational stories like these with hidden meanings because it slips in a life lesson without making it super obvious and in a way that keeps the kids excited to read.
The illustrations in this story are not my favorite and I wasn't a fan of the color scheme either. I think the tone of the book is so lively and a fun story that it was too muted and bland for the story. I thought that the way the illustrator depicted Gary and the other pigeons were cool making them more realistic looking but I think that the illustrations would be boring to the kids.
October 21, 2022
Leila Rudge’s “Gary” is a beautifully illustrated book about an oddball pigeon who has no problem accepting who he is. Gary is a racing pigeon who can’t fly. Gary instead is a collector of travel memorabilia and an avid scrapbooker, the only catch is that he hasn’t been anywhere, and all of the mementos have been given to him. When Gary accidentally falls into the racers’ travel basket, he will have to find his own way home from the big city, using his wits and not his wings. While I absolutely loved the illustrations in the book and the premise of the story, the storyline fell flat for me. There was a great setup and a good ending, but the middle never quite made it in. I would have loved to see the actual adventure of Gary getting home - maybe in a Scaredy Squirrel-type situation, elaborate sequencing and minor pitfalls. Where it succeeds is in providing the narrative for kids who don’t fit in or who have quirks and interests that are a bit odd.
Teacher Tips
* What are racing pigeons and how do they find their way home?
* How do we celebrate the people in our community who do things a little differently?
* Personal quirks - What’s your quirk? What makes you tick? What are you passionate about?
* Take it further: Have students draw a map of Gary getting home. What happens to him? What landmarks in the city does he have to pass by/go through?
Teacher Tips
* What are racing pigeons and how do they find their way home?
* How do we celebrate the people in our community who do things a little differently?
* Personal quirks - What’s your quirk? What makes you tick? What are you passionate about?
* Take it further: Have students draw a map of Gary getting home. What happens to him? What landmarks in the city does he have to pass by/go through?
Read
March 20, 2019Gary is a racing pigeon. The only problem is, he can't fly. So every day when the rest of the racing pigeons take off for their daily flight, Gary stays at home and works on his scrapbook of travel memories. Although, he's never actually been anywhere. Everything in his scrapbook is from listening to the stories of the other racing pigeons. Then, one night, Gary falls off of the pigeon coop and into the travel basket, which takes the pigeons to their starting place every morning. Gary wakes up by the sounds of many pigeons flapping their wings. Feathers are flying everywhere and he is scared! The racing pigeons were off, and Gary realized he was left alone. Thankfully, he has his travel scrapbook with him because it also fell into the basket with Gary. Because he has his scrapbook, Gary is easily able to find his way home through the city. He arrives home safely just around when the racing pigeons get home and now has so many travel mementos from his journey that he can add to his scrapbook. Now, every once in a while, the racing pigeons take after Gary and decide to go through the city without flying to get home.
I really liked this book. The pictures weren't very bright but conveyed the story well and really captured some of Gary's feelings well. It was very honest about being left out or not able to do something everyone else can do. I liked how positive Gary was, regardless that he was getting left at home day after day. Instead of complaining or being upset, he listened intently and created his scrapbook by listening to the other racing pigeons; which in turn, helped him return home when he was lost. Overall, this book was very uplifting and brought a smile to my face.
I would love to use this book in the classroom. I think the students would easily sympathize with Gary and his inability to fly. This book would also provide a good opportunity to teach my class about how differences in everyone are good, and we should all be happy with our differences like Gary was. I think a fun activity for this book would be to have all my students create a travel scrapbook of their own of all the places they want to travel to eventually. They could even do research on those places and include information and pictures that would be helpful if they ever ended up getting to go. It would be a fun way for them to practice research, writing, being creative, and getting to express themselves.
I really liked this book. The pictures weren't very bright but conveyed the story well and really captured some of Gary's feelings well. It was very honest about being left out or not able to do something everyone else can do. I liked how positive Gary was, regardless that he was getting left at home day after day. Instead of complaining or being upset, he listened intently and created his scrapbook by listening to the other racing pigeons; which in turn, helped him return home when he was lost. Overall, this book was very uplifting and brought a smile to my face.
I would love to use this book in the classroom. I think the students would easily sympathize with Gary and his inability to fly. This book would also provide a good opportunity to teach my class about how differences in everyone are good, and we should all be happy with our differences like Gary was. I think a fun activity for this book would be to have all my students create a travel scrapbook of their own of all the places they want to travel to eventually. They could even do research on those places and include information and pictures that would be helpful if they ever ended up getting to go. It would be a fun way for them to practice research, writing, being creative, and getting to express themselves.
October 28, 2018
A lovely picture book that’s wonderful to read to young children. This story is about a pigeon called Gary who spends most of his time eating and sleeping and dreaming of adventure because he’s the one pigeon who cannot fly. When his friends set off in their travel basket, Gary expects to stay at home, organizing his scrapbook of travel mementos and imagining far-off places but when he accidentally falls into the travel basket and ends up a very long way from home, he discovers that flying might not be the only way to have adventures. Such a creative story and the illustrations that depict a wondrous adventure were amazing. I highly recommend this to young readers in kindy or year 1.
Noted on the CBCA list of reads for kids
Special thanks to Walker Books Publishers for sending me an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
- Annie
Noted on the CBCA list of reads for kids
Special thanks to Walker Books Publishers for sending me an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review.
- Annie
November 11, 2021
Gary is a racing pigeon, but he's different from the others. Gary can't fly. He takes notes of the others' amazing adventures, and keeps a scrapbook of their travels. But he hasn't been anywhere, until the day he accidentally falls into the travel basket and has to find his own way back from the point in the city where the others are released.
I love how Gary doesn't panic, he just uses what he's studied. One of the final illustrations of the other racing pigeons joining Gary on his travels via subway is pretty funny. It would be fun to do a related activity with this if kids are studying transportation methods in a city and have them plot their own ways home from a designated point just like Gary. Combining this with a map reading unit would be good too. A lightly humorous travel story with an unlikely adventurer who doesn't let his handicap slow him down.
I love how Gary doesn't panic, he just uses what he's studied. One of the final illustrations of the other racing pigeons joining Gary on his travels via subway is pretty funny. It would be fun to do a related activity with this if kids are studying transportation methods in a city and have them plot their own ways home from a designated point just like Gary. Combining this with a map reading unit would be good too. A lightly humorous travel story with an unlikely adventurer who doesn't let his handicap slow him down.
May 21, 2024
Meet Gary. Gary lives with a bunch of racing pigeons who get to see the world. However, when the other pigeons race Gary stays at home because he can’t fly. Instead he creates a scrapbook based on everything the other pigeons discuss when they get home. Then one day Gary falls into the basket…and has to find his way home.
How could the other pigeons not notice Gary was in the basket? And who in their right mind leaves the basket in the city for the pigeons to fly home? Sadly they were the first two thoughts I had when I finished the book. As I wrote above this book may not be the best for logical thinkers but if you are looking to create discussion – then this might just be the perfect book.
How could the other pigeons not notice Gary was in the basket? And who in their right mind leaves the basket in the city for the pigeons to fly home? Sadly they were the first two thoughts I had when I finished the book. As I wrote above this book may not be the best for logical thinkers but if you are looking to create discussion – then this might just be the perfect book.
May 14, 2017
Gary is a homing pigeon who cannot fly. Through listening to the adventurous tales of the other racing pigeons in the loft, Gary compiles a travel journal. When accidentally left at the starting point of race, Gary has to navigate home, without flying. Shortlisted for the CBCA 2017 Book of the Year: Early Childhood, this is a pleasant tale of determination and resilience. The illustrations are delight with the racing outfits of the birds, memorabilia for the journal and quirky and expressive illustrations adding depth to the story. Lots of potential in the classroom but felt the story could be stronger, with a greater discussion on the challenges overcome on his journey home
April 30, 2019
A delightful tale of a pigeon that couldn't fly, Gary. Despite not being exactly like the other racing pigeons (in that he can't fly), Gary still has dreams of adventure and exploring the world and there comes a day when those dreams are realised.
Rudge's story book for children made for a nice way to end the day with my two-year-old. The story was short enough to hold her attention with enough of a plot that we could both enjoy the reading. The illustrations are beautiful and very appropriate for the tale.
Rudge, through 'Gary' reminds us that it's okay to be different, as well as the importance of having dreams (for one day they might come true).
Rudge's story book for children made for a nice way to end the day with my two-year-old. The story was short enough to hold her attention with enough of a plot that we could both enjoy the reading. The illustrations are beautiful and very appropriate for the tale.
Rudge, through 'Gary' reminds us that it's okay to be different, as well as the importance of having dreams (for one day they might come true).
November 23, 2021
Gary is a pigeon but he can't fly like the other racing pigeons can. However, his disability doesn't stop him from collecting various mementos and learning about different places through his friends. When he accidentally falls into a basket and gets taken into the city, a place he's never been, he is lost. However, Gary problem solves and finds his way home.
This was a great perspective book, affirming that it's ok to be different. Gary actually thinks outside the box for a pigeon and takes the bus to get home. I like Gary's attitude that doesn't let his inability to fly to stop him from doing what he can do.
This was a great perspective book, affirming that it's ok to be different. Gary actually thinks outside the box for a pigeon and takes the bus to get home. I like Gary's attitude that doesn't let his inability to fly to stop him from doing what he can do.
August 21, 2025
I love pigeons, and Gary was very cute. I love that this didn’t turn into a story about how Gary couldn’t fly but actually he could all along or has some other incredible, unique characteristic to make up for it. No, Gary can’t fly. That’s it.
I do have a criticism, though, because the beginning was great and the end was great, but we kind of missed the point of the whole story? Gary loves scrapbooking about adventures that the other pigeons go on. This is his first time going on one himself, and we just skip to him coming home. It felt a little lazy to not come up with an adventure for Gary to go on.
Regardless, I’m glad Gary finally got his adventure.
I do have a criticism, though, because the beginning was great and the end was great, but we kind of missed the point of the whole story? Gary loves scrapbooking about adventures that the other pigeons go on. This is his first time going on one himself, and we just skip to him coming home. It felt a little lazy to not come up with an adventure for Gary to go on.
Regardless, I’m glad Gary finally got his adventure.
June 20, 2017
Gary is a pigeon who can't fly. He never gets to go with his buddies to race from the city back to their loft. He loves to hear of their travels however, and scrapbooks all about them. One day he accidentally goes with his fellow pigeons and must find his way home. Can he do so with just his scrapbook to help him navigate?
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This is a cute and optimistic story! It shows that there's more than one way to do something. My only issue is that you don't actually see his journey home. It just skips right to his arrival back at the loft. Otherwise a very fun book.
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This is a cute and optimistic story! It shows that there's more than one way to do something. My only issue is that you don't actually see his journey home. It just skips right to his arrival back at the loft. Otherwise a very fun book.
June 13, 2025
I loved the idea of Gary! A pigeon that cant fly but goes on an unlikely adventure? Sign me up. The ending was a little bit of a let down, though, Gary returned from his travels even though he couldn't fly and then it just kind of ended without a lesson. The book could have given us a page or two about Gary and his ingenuity and persistence, but instead it ends wirh Gary coming home and just showing that the pigeons that *can* fly now take flightless trips, too. Maybe Gary will return for more adventures!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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