The Class With Wings

Illustrated by Hannah Salyer 

Published: October 8, 2024, by Harry N. Abrams

Pages: 40

Grade Level: PreK - 3rd grade

ISBN:   978-1949480436 

The favorite part of the day for Ms. Lee’s class is the last half hour of school.  That is when they become birds.  Of course, not really, but in their imaginations.  Ms. Lee has them put their heads on their desks and close their eyes. She turns off the lights and her soft voice begins.  “For months you’ve been in Brazil.  Lately you’ve been extra hungry.  It’s April now and you have been practicing your song.”  Ms. Lee plays the song of a veery bird on her phone.   

The class has been studying the veery bird and imagine what it would be like to be one and migrate thousands of miles each year.  Every day they become a veery bird in their imaginations for a short while and the information they learned about the veery is cemented by this practice of learning about a creature through its eyes and activities. As part of their bird study, the class also goes to a park armed with binoculars and look for veeries (and other birds) who have flown so far. 

I wish I had had a teacher like Ms. Lee who instilled a love and respect for a small creature, and I wish I had been a teacher who taught this way more often! 

Paul Fleischman is a Newbery-winning author and has written over 50 books for children and young adults.  He has also been awarded multiple awards and honors for many of his books. He is a bird lover and lives in Monterey with his wife. 

Hannah Salyer loves the outdoors and has nearly all her life.  She loves creating art about nature. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner and three cats.  

Reviewed by Audrey Campbell, MED

Reading Specialist and Library Media Center Director

Valley Adventist Schools, Rogers Campus

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