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Fly
Pure joy and the power of community radiate from this sweet picture book about a young Black girl’s perseverance and confidence in following her double Dutch dreams.
Africa’s grandmother was a double Dutch legend, and Africa knows she can become the same. Her brother scoffs when she signs up for a double Dutch competition, though—how can she hope to compete when she’s never done it before? But Africa has all the tools she needs: memories of her grandmother, her bestie Bianca’s dance moves, her friend Omar’s rhythm, and her classmates’ Mary Mack timing and cartwheels.
If Africa can pull everything together to jump some winning moves, she might just fly, but it’s the birthmark in the shape of her name that tells her she’s always been a winner.
Africa’s grandmother was a double Dutch legend, and Africa knows she can become the same. Her brother scoffs when she signs up for a double Dutch competition, though—how can she hope to compete when she’s never done it before? But Africa has all the tools she needs: memories of her grandmother, her bestie Bianca’s dance moves, her friend Omar’s rhythm, and her classmates’ Mary Mack timing and cartwheels.
If Africa can pull everything together to jump some winning moves, she might just fly, but it’s the birthmark in the shape of her name that tells her she’s always been a winner.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2022
2 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 22, 2021
Kudos to Africa and her determination to join the Double Dutch competition. Never double dutched before? No problem for Africa because she believes she can do it and what you believe about yourself is what you become. Together, Thurman and Cunha have created a transformative story of empowerment...be strong, be confident, be bold, be fearless, and there is nothing you can not achieve. She believed she could, so she did. Highly recommend this story for kids of all ages.
September 26, 2021
Fly is a beautiful story about self-confidence. In this wonderful picture book, Africa is determined to win a Double Dutch contest. Her brother points out she’s never even played Double Dutch – so how could she win?! But Africa is not deterred and turns to her friends for inspiration. It’s a lovely message of self-empowerment and believing in your dreams. The illustrations are gorgeous.
January 6, 2022
FLY is a story about the joy of movement and showing the world what you’re made of. It follows a girl named Africa, who wants nothing more than to "jump, fly, double Dutch to the sky" after seeing a poster for a double Dutch competition (never mind that she has never double Dutched before!). Undeterred by her brother’s advice that “you can’t do something you’ve never done before,” Africa follows in her grandmother’s footsteps, pouring herself into learning the right moves and asking all her friends for help. The only problem is: no one seems to know double Dutch! Instead, Africa learns the art of various other movements: dance, step, cartwheels, and more. In doing so, she learns everything she needs to know to double Dutch. Debut author Brittany Thurman writes with a gentle exuberance that makes this story soar, while illustrator Anna Cunha’s rich, textured illustrations render Africa’s world beautifully. FLY is perfect for any child with an interest in dance and movement. Its cultural specificity and authenticity only add to its power.
January 7, 2022
What a beautiful, cleverly written story. I love that when the main character, Africa, asks her brother what a competition is, he responds, “It’s when you show the world what you’re made of.” What I also love about this book is that the message I took away is that you never know when you’ll learn something that can be put to good use – that can help you accomplish a goal and “show the world what you’re made of.” Keeping an open mind and collaborating with others with others can lead to success.
January 7, 2022
Inspiring and fun! Africa wants to Double dutch, but she never has before. She tries to learn from her friends, but they know how to dance, step, and cartwheel instead. Still, maybe her friends have taught her everything she needs to show the world what she's made of. This book has a wonderful message about believing in yourself. Additionally, the story progresses through the days of the week, making this a learning tool for educators and parents to use when teaching the days of the week to littles. Full of heart and full of fun!
January 6, 2022
Africa wants to show the world what she's made of, and a double dutch competition is just the way to do it, even if she's never double dutched in her life. This sweet story of one girl's determination has the poetic rhythm of the game that inspired it. Africa dreams of "feet that forget the ground" as she imagines flying like the birds - and her grandma, the former double dutcher. It's an inspiring story about how believing in yourself is sometimes all that matters.
July 26, 2021
SO GOOD! Readers will be cheering for Africa as she prepares for the big double Dutch contest. The only catch? She's never jumped double Dutch before! Africa's self-confidence will inspire readers to try something new themselves. With beautiful illustrations and lovely, lyrical language, this is a book I highly recommend to all readers. In fact, I love it so much that I hope Thurman and Cunha team up again to write another adventure starring this wonderful main character!
July 29, 2021
Africa wants to compete in the upcoming double-dutch competition but has never tried it before. Her grandmother was a double dutch legend though and Africa is ready to learn - she isn't going to let inexperience stop her. A beautiful story filled with themes of family, embracing new experiences, and showing the world what you are made of. The lyrical text and bold illustrations make this one you will be sure to want to read again and again.
February 23, 2022
When Africa signs up for the Double Dutch Competition, she’s not worried that she has never done it before. When she has trouble teaching herself, she tries to get help from her friends. She soon learns that everyone has a different skill. Remembering all the things her friends have taught her she has the confidence to try. Soft illustrations bring Africa and her friends to life and the story reminds readers to follow their dreams.
July 30, 2021
This book is so beautiful and uplifting! It tells the story of Africa, a girl who desperately wants to double dutch. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and Thurman's lyrical writing will resonate with kids (and grown ups) who have a dream that - at first - seems unreachable. One warning: there's a good chance this book will make you want to learn double dutch!
March 25, 2022
The illustrations in this book are stunning and joyful, but I just didn’t love it. The start and end with a focus on a birthmark seemed out of place, and the ending remark of showing what you’re made of seems strange when the MC has never double dutched before. I do love the focus on her community helping her through their own gifts, but it just doesn’t add up for me.
January 11, 2022
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Fly, written by Brittany J. Thurman and illustrated by Anna Cunha, a joyful tale of a little girl ready to show the world what she’s made of.
On Africa’s inner arm is a birthmark in the shape of her name. It inspires and guides her; today it leads her outside, where she sees a sign advertising a double-Dutch competition. She decides she wants to compete, despite never having double-Dutched before, certain that she has the raw talent. She tries to learn on her own, to no avail. She spends the week asking friends to show her how, but none of them know either. However, they do show her their own talents: stepping, dancing, tumbling, etc. The day of the competition, Africa has plenty of new skills… but she’s still never double-Dutched. Will she still be able to show what she’s made of?
Jubilant and uplifting. Africa’s story is one of community and courage, told in a accessible style with compelling text and rich, gorgeous illustrations. Spoiler alert, Africa does do well at the competition, but more importantly, she was brave enough to try something new, with the support of her friends and family and the knowledge they bestowed, all of which allowed her feet to fly. It’s a subtle metaphor and one that works wonderfully, especially when combined with the metaphor of Africa’s name and birthmark celebrating her heritage and Black identity. Thurman’s text is both lyrical and conversational, and lovely to read aloud; the deep colors and joyful energy of Cunha’s illustrations are a delight for the eyes. The length is perfect for a storytime, and JJ loved this one. A wonderful story of tenacity, friendship, and pride, and we recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
January 6, 2022
Africa has never double dutched before but does that stop her from wanting to enter the double dutch competition? With help from her friends, none of whom know how to double dutch either, but do know how to dance, step, double-cartwheel, sing and move to the groove, Africa is determined to show that she can “jump, fly, double dutch to the sky”! In this gorgeous, lyrical story, self confidence and determination take center stage. Anna Cunha’s illustrations, with its warm color palette, bring the author’s text to life. A must-read and a must-have!
January 5, 2022
Get ready to meet Africa, the little girl who’s determination and self confidence soars in author Brittany Thurman’s debut picture book. A story about perseverance and the power of community Africa is intent on entering a Double Dutch competition and fly like her Nana despite never having double Dutched before. Anna Cunha’s joyful, beautifully composed illustrations play on the thoughtful lyricism of Thurman’s text. Together they help this book “jump, fly, double Dutch to the sky”.
November 10, 2021
What a beautiful book! The art and the story all represent a rich culture of representation and inclusion. Africa is a believer and brings all the things she’s learned from her friends together to create something beautiful. I loved this story of inner strength and believing in one’s self!
July 25, 2021
There's no stopping Africa from entering the upcoming double-dutch competition. And even though she has never double-dutched, she takes inspiration from her grandmother, a double-dutch champion, and learns skills from her classmates that help her prepare for the upcoming competition. When the big day finally arrives, Africa flies. This is a wonderfully inspiring and beautifully written story to encourage children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. Highly recommended.
July 27, 2021
Absolutely beautiful! Thurman's prose are lyrical and moving and perfectly coupled with Cunha's lovely art. Little Africa wants to double Dutch like her grandmother. But first, she has to learn! With only a week to go, Africa sets her eye on the prize and her heart on the competition. The plot is exciting, the prose are inviting and the art will carry readers away.
July 25, 2021
Wow! This book is pure wow. Africa dreams of winning a double-dutch competition. The hitch? She's never double-dutched. Thurman's lyrical prose guides the reader through Africa's journey, as finds inspiration from her grandmother and shows the world what she's made of. Cunha's illustrations are joyful and captivating. This is one to read again and again.
July 25, 2021
This beautifully worded book tells the story of Africa, a girl who wants to compete in double Dutch, an activity she’s never done. Through lessons from her friends, she learns all the skills she needs to succeed. Bold illustrations by Anna Cunha reinforce the main theme. Great for kids who might be afraid to try something new.
February 26, 2022
I’m biased because I know Brittany and think she’s amazing but this book is so beautiful. I loved how Africa found everything she needed by asking her community and putting it together to enter the Double Dutch contest. It warmed my heart to see a dark skinned Black girl illustrated so beautifully as well. ❤️
January 23, 2022
What a beautiful book! It's a lovely story about self-confidence, an uplifting community, and a young girl's determination to achieve her goals. Brittany J. Thurman's lyrical text combines perfectly with Anna Cunha's bright and deliciously textured illustrations.
September 4, 2021
Little Africa wants to double-dutch like her grandmother and show the world what she's made of ...only she doesn't know how to doube-dutch! But Africa is far from giving up. She draws talent and courage from her community, strength and inspiration from her grandmother, and shows the world she can fly! An empowering read in beautiful lyrical prose and colorful stunning art, FLY! is sure to make your heart leap!
September 16, 2021
I loved getting to meet Africa and her big dreams to see what she is made of. Her determination to try something new and find her inner strength offers incredible modeling for young readers. Thanks to gorgeous prose from Thurman and striking illustrations from Anna Cunha, young readers will be inspired to fly in all areas of their life, just like Africa.
August 15, 2021
Oh, my heart! This gorgeous, gorgeous book about a little girl who wants to Double Dutch like her Nana once did is about so much more than skipping rope. Thurman and Cunha's darling main character and her loving family and community teach us about openness, inheritance, and moving through the world heart first. The painterly illustrations are frame-worthy, carrying us through this joyful story in beautiful sweeps of pastel layers and stunning composition. Highly recommend this absolute gem!
August 12, 2021
What a beautiful book! Little Africa is determined to win a Double-Dutch competition but she has never even played Double-Dutch! Thurman’s lyrical prose paired with Cunha’s lovely art tells an empowering story about following your heart and believing in your dreams. I highly recommend this inspiring book which will resonate with all children.
August 8, 2021
Africa has a birth mark the shape of her name. It leads the way and reminds her what she'd made of. When Africa wants to compete in a double-Dutch competition, she is sure she can "jump, fly, double-Dutch to the sky." She's never done it before but won't let that stop her. This beautifully written and illustrated story shows readers the joy of new experiences and the importance of knowing what you're made of. This is a lovely story all around. I highly recommend it.
February 18, 2022
The illustrations are better than the story, which is . . . Well, the main character's triumph is in entering a competition for something she's never done before. That's a weird thing to seem to advocate for, right? Why can't she "show the world what she's made of" by doing something she's skilled at doing? Just a strange concept.
July 5, 2022
A joyful, radiant story about a girl named Africa who wants to learn how to Double dutch anbd asks her brother and her classmate to teach her. None know how to double Dutch, but each instead offers Africa their own special talent like dancing, stepping, "Miss Mary Mack," double-cartwheels, backflips, and somersaults.
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September 26, 2022“Africa has a birthmark in the shape of her name that’s always shown her what she’s made of.”
From the moment Africa sees the poster advertising a double Dutch competition on Sunday (and learns what exactly a competition is), she is determined to take part and show the world what she’s made of, just like her own double Dutching grandma used to do. Although her family is a little skeptical, since Africa has never actually double Dutched before, she is determined to succeed. When trying to learn on her own doesn’t work out, Africa decides to ask each of her friends to show her how. While none of her friends know how to double Dutch, they each have a special skill of their own—dancing, stepping, clapping, singing, and even cartwheeling—and maybe, if Africa can manage to learn something from them all, she might be able to double Dutch, too.
Brittany J. Thurman’s debut picture book is a wholesome and joyful story about a girl’s journey through new experiences and the unwavering belief in herself that she carries with her through it all. I love the spirit of helpfulness and community that this book showcases... To read the rest of this review, head over to our website: Fly | Brittany J. Thurman
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
From the moment Africa sees the poster advertising a double Dutch competition on Sunday (and learns what exactly a competition is), she is determined to take part and show the world what she’s made of, just like her own double Dutching grandma used to do. Although her family is a little skeptical, since Africa has never actually double Dutched before, she is determined to succeed. When trying to learn on her own doesn’t work out, Africa decides to ask each of her friends to show her how. While none of her friends know how to double Dutch, they each have a special skill of their own—dancing, stepping, clapping, singing, and even cartwheeling—and maybe, if Africa can manage to learn something from them all, she might be able to double Dutch, too.
Brittany J. Thurman’s debut picture book is a wholesome and joyful story about a girl’s journey through new experiences and the unwavering belief in herself that she carries with her through it all. I love the spirit of helpfulness and community that this book showcases... To read the rest of this review, head over to our website: Fly | Brittany J. Thurman
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
February 15, 2022
Africa, a young girl with a birthmark shaped like her name, wants to enter an upcoming double Dutch competition. The problem? She's never done double Dutch in her whole life. When she announces to her family, her intention to enter, her brother points out the difficulty in attempting to do something she has never tried. Africa's determination leads her to try to teach herself, when that doesn't work so well, she seeks help from her friends. While none of her friends have done double Dutch either, they do have some great skills to teach her; after learning how to jitter, jive, bounce, step, hand clap, cartwheel and somersault, will Africa be able to double Dutch? Being willing to try something new is an attitude that many people, adults and children alike, are reluctant to do. It was fun to watch Africa's efforts to to try something that sounded interesting to her, despite the obstacles in her way. In her attempts to learn how to double Dutch, Africa learns how to spread her 'wings' and 'fly', showing the world what she's made of. Cunha's pink-cheeked characters while created digitally have so much texture to them they almost pop off the page. An inspiring story of hope and determination in pursuit of a goal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews