Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind

Reach for this book when your child feels stifled by the rigid expectations of school or home and expresses a deep longing for adventure. It is a perfect choice for the dreamer who gazes out the window during math class or the child who feels they do not quite fit into the neat boxes of everyday life. Gary Ross, a master of cinematic storytelling, uses rhythmic verse to follow Bartholomew Biddle as he uses a bedsheet to catch a great wind and soar away from his ordinary room. Through his journey to a land of pirates, a canyon of scholars, and beyond, the story explores the tension between the safety of home and the exhilarating, sometimes frightening, pull of the unknown. It is a sophisticated yet accessible fable that validates a child's need for autonomy while gently reminding them of the love that anchors them. Parents will appreciate the rich vocabulary and the way the verse structure makes the epic adventure feel like a timeless legend.