Come Fly with Me - Hardcover

Satomi Ichikawa, creator of the Nora books, lives in Paris, France.
Satomi Ichikawa, creator of the Nora books, lives in Paris, France.

*Starred Review* “I’ve had enough,” says Cosmos the wooden toy plane. He’s tired of the toy box and longs to be Somewhere—perhaps the white-domed building visible from his window. So Cosmos and Woggy, a black-and-white stuffed dog, set off, flying above Parisian streets toward the (never fully identified) Panthéon. The initial excitement is tempered by a run-in with birds, and then being lost in a storm, which sends the pair topsy-turvy. But when the sun breaks through, the dome is visible, and the friends are finally Somewhere. As they sit on one of the Panthéon’s griffins, they can see all of Paris, with a rainbow framing the Eiffel Tower. Ichikawa takes the children on a journey that is just right for them, from the adorable protagonists and their longing for freedom to the glorious ending. The adventure element is perfectly keyed to the age group—trouble and turbulence are endured with bravery that leads to a happy resolution. Although children may not understand that the setting is Paris, the charming watercolors with their everchanging scenes and skies will pull them in. This is a perfect choice for story hours. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper