The Year We Learned to Fly

Jacqueline Woodson's "The Year We Learned to Fly" is a poignant picture book told in verse, beautifully illustrated by Rafael López. It follows a brother and sister on a rainy day, who, feeling bored, receive profound advice from their grandmother: to use their minds and believe. This simple guidance sparks a powerful imaginative adventure, taking them through their ancestry and teaching them about inner strength and resilience. The book gently explores themes of self-confidence, the power of imagination, and the intergenerational transfer of wisdom and freedom, making it a wonderful tool for discussing big ideas with young children.

One rainy day, a bored brother and sister listen to their wise grandmother's advice: "Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing." And before they know it, their imagination takes them on a beautiful adventure through ancestry, strength and resilience. They dream, they believe and eventually . . . they fly. A poignant tale about the power of imagination, from the award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson.