3 out of 4 stars
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Birthday of the Wings is a children's book written by Alfia Idle and illustrated by Martin Creasey. It is a collection of fourteen short stories covering various topics. The author suggests that readers should find a perfect tale which matches and resonates with their core energy. This, he says, is key for miracles to start happening thus warding off uncertainties, replacing them with clarity and truth .
Each story has it's own character and is suitable for different audiences or states of mind. The author's artful personification of inanimate, everyday objects was interesting to read. There is a story in which a pen and pencil are the main characters and another one in which a flowered dress takes the lead. Some stories also featured animals like cats, horses, snakes and in another one, a duck is one of the protagonists. This aspect of the book will enhance children's creativity and imagination. It is also worth mentioning that reading the whole book will transport the reader to various places like China and a small town in England. As I read through the book, I was glad to come across different scenery like a mountainside, a forest, a park and a courtyad.
It is difficult to pick one favorite out of this collection because I liked them all. First place goes to "The Shopkeeper's Son" which is downright hilarious. It's about a lazy, young man who fails to step up to the occasion of managing his father's shop and ends up learning the hard way that hard work and responsibility are vital traits for survival. It also teaches that people should utilize opportunities that come their way, lest they be taken away.
The stories are well paced and there are accompanying illustrations throughout the book. This being a children's book, the language is simple with minimal complex vocabulary. On the positive side, it will help children learn new words. The writing style is also catchy and filled with imagery, without becoming too overbearing. Otherwise, it would give the reader a hard time trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind phrases. Overall, I was impressed by how well presented the work is.
The themes covered in this book are timely and relevant. They include good behavior, kindness, meaningful relationships and resourcefulness. These are traits that people need to acquire early on in life. It's a plus that this book presents them in an appealing manner, which made many of the stories stay with me long after I was done reading them.
Although I could tell that the book was well edited, I was massively disappointed that some parts of the book (from the PDF copy I received) were missing. It was quite frustrating to be engrossed in a story then it came to an abrupt end or parts of it were missing. This however did not prevent me from grasping an overview of the author's words in those incidents. I can comfortably say that I am quite satisfied with what I read.
I will therefore subtract one star and give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. It is a book I would recommend to parents, children of ages 8-12 and anyone who desires a reflective read.
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Birthday of the wings
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