Sometimes You Fly, written by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by me, is now a beautiful padded board book!
Today, this pretty book flies into the world. The production of it is just stunning. It feels good to hold and it sits all by itself like a little block.
The smaller format feels sturdy and strong. Katherine’s profound poetry offers meaningful encouragement for overcoming life’s hurdles, whether big or small.
At it’s lower-than-a-picture-book-price it’s not much more expensive than a greeting card. Which makes it, with its inspiring “life is about the journey” message, a meaningful gift for graduates.
Our family, like many others, is mourning the loss of being able to celebrate a graduation. To highlight this special book’s birthday, I would like to send 5 copies to reach graduates who will not be able to commemorate this milestone with an event.
Mention in the comments below if you have a graduate who will not attend a graduation ceremony this year. I will randomly pick 5 winners and announce them in my post on May 12.
For anyone who would like to order this uplifting book (or any book), I encourage you to please, please, PLEASE support and order through your local bookstore. They really need our help right now.
We will all continue to celebrate life’s happy accomplishments in new and memorable ways.
Congratulations to the class of 2020, you will fly!
This would be perfect for a niece who is missing all her senior year moments!
Good morning, Kim. Please pass on my congratulations to your niece. Good luck!
My daughter, Sophia, whose accomplishments are long, is still the most grounded, kind, best big AND little sister, my wife and I could ask for. She is taking this whole stressful and disappointing period in stride and is looking forward to what college has in store.
Here’s to Sophia and all the exciting adventures in store for her! Thank you for visiting and commenting, David.
Such a beautiful book. Wonderful message.
Thank you, Deborah. I’m so happy that you like it. Thanks for visiting our blog!
My oldest will be graduating College this year. Don’t enter me as there are many other more deserving grads. He is not devastated to miss Ceremonies but his Mom is. I will be purchasing this book for him. I love it’s beautiful message and the illustrations are the best!
Perfect book! I have two nieces that are both missing senior moments! One is a special needs young lady who does not even understand why she cannot go to prom or graduation. Thanks so much for sharing these books!
I wish that I could put one in every graduate’s hands. Thank you, Angie. And cheers and blessings to your nieces!
I am not entering anyone in the giveaway, but I want to thank you for doing this. 2020 is not the senior year so many of our young people looked forward to. Kudos to you for making it better!
My heart really goes out to all of them, Kathy. Thank you for your kind words and for visiting and commenting today!
My nephew is missing his graduation, would love to give him a copy. Book looks great!
Hi Zachary, I think this book really does have a very meaningful message. Congratulations to your nephew! Thank you for visiting and entering.
What a perfect book for this challenging time. My nephew is graduating from 8th grade.
Nice to see you, Kathy. Take care and congrats to your nephew!
Such an uplifting book! Congrats and thank you. 🙂
Thank you, Danielle. I appreciate you visiting and commenting today!
What a special book. And much needed right now. My older son would’ve been walking to receive a certificate from his Technical College. It’s such an accomplishment for him as he navigates college with high functioning autism. We’re so proud of him. Thank you for writing this book Katherine:)
I think that the message of this book is very encouraging for all of us right now. Congratulations to your son and to his proud mom!
I’ve seen this beautiful book and thought about getting it for the grads here. Unfortunately we have two graduates in this house that are missing out on their ceremonies and getting their names called to walk across the stage. Thank you for the chance to win a copy in a time of tears and heartbreak in our house.
I’m sorry for their loss and for yours. I wish I could put this sweet book in all the grads’ hands! Best wishes and congratulations to your graduates!
Lovely book and message. Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!
What a LOVELY gesture, Jen! And what a beautiful board book!
Thanks, Jill. I really am heartbroken for our young people. And HMH did a wonderful job on the book. Take care!
You compassion in thinking about these kids who are missing out on such a special event in their lives is heartwarming. And I’m certain the lucky winners will be forever grateful. So very kind of you!
That’s kind of you to say, Cindy. Thank you so much. And thank you for taking the time to visit and comment on PBB today!
What a tender and sweet little book. I love the illustrations. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I’m so glad you like the book, Jennifer. Thank you for stopping by PBB and commenting.
My daughter, Eleanor, is sad to miss her graduation from college this May, as well as her final season as a track athlete. So many losses of different sorts for many people during this time. Thank you for brightening the day of five lucky grads!
Overwhelming losses. Thank you, Jennifer, for stopping by PBB and entering to win a book. Congratulations to Eleanor!
This will make graduation so much happier for all of our grads who are so sad to miss their big celebrations. I can’t wait to see the book. It sounds beautiful in this format and so meaningful too. Congrats, Jen!
Hello there, Tess! Thank you for your kind comment. I hope it can bring a little encouragement. Hope you’re safe and taking care. xo
My granddaughter will miss her high school graduation this May. She has worked so hard and taken many AP classes during her years in school. She is looking forward to going to Honors College in the fall.
Thank you for having this book available to make missing one of life’s milestones a little easier!
I’m sorry for the loss of a celebration for your granddaughter, Judith. I wish her all the best and send huge congratulations to her. Thank you so much for entering to win and for visiting our blog today!
What a beautiful book! Congratulations!!!
Our son’s best friend will not have a graduation celebration and if I win, he’s going to be the recipient. Thank you for being so generous!
Thank you, Vijaya! I am happy that you stopped by and entered the giveaway!
I don’t have a grad to nominate but thank you for this kind, thoughtful gift to others. I can’t wait to read your book.
I hope you enjoy the book when you see it. I appreciate your kind words and that you stopped by our blog today.
So beautiful! I love the format.
Thank you, Lenora! HMH did a wonderful job and the way the picture book is laid out works really well as a board book. Thank you for visiting and commenting!
My granddaughter is to graduate this year. She had already bought her prom dress and was looking forward to track season, prom and graduation. She wasn’t in school the day that they sent everyone home so she still has materials and stuff in her locker. A friend of hers grabbed her clarinet on his way out. I will be buying the book regardless if she is picked or not Looking forward to reading it myself
Hi Pat, I am teary much of the time these days. Congratulations to your granddaughter. And I do thank you for sharing and visiting.
No grad to enter but the board book is lovely and I admire your thoughtfulness for the 2020 graduates.
Thank you so much, Judy! I appreciate you taking the time to visit our blog and comment.
My daughter inlaws brother was graduating in may but kansas closed their schools while everybody was on spring break. Canceling graduation ceromonies too
I’m sorry, Lisa. So many losses. But stay safe and thank you for entering the giveaway!
My son will graduate from College on May 9th without any fanfare & with little to no prospects on jobs after graduation at this time.
I’m sorry, Sara. These are such difficult times and full of so many losses. I do thank you for visiting Picture Book Builders and I wish you luck in the giveaway.
Our college senior will not have a graduation ceremony to attend this year, sadly. He will, however, remember the ending to his senior year more vividly, perhaps, than most. For that, we are thankful. Thanks for offering the opportunity to enter the drawing for this amazing story and book!
We will all look to celebrate in new and creative ways. Congratulations to your son, Amy! And thank you for visiting PBB!
My son will be missing his high school graduation. Thanks for honoring and remembering these kids!
I really feel for them, Laura. And the message in this sweet book is encouraging and heartfelt. Congratulations to your son!
I have our youngest child who really looked forward (and still has hope) to walking across the stage to receive her High school diploma this year. She wanted her brothers to be there cheering her on as she did several years back. She’s going to be okay because she’s a trooper! Thank you for this opportunity to possible get this beautiful book to share with her!
I’m sorry for your daughter to miss that opportunity. Congratulations to her regardless of a stage or not! Thank you for visiting us at PBB!
My son is missing his 5th grade promotion. This is an elementary rite of passage. He began practicing his 5th grade speech at the end of 4th grade. Hard time.
Congratulations to your son, Julianne! Thank you for entering the giveaway and visiting PBB.
Loved this book the minute I saw it!
I’m so glad, Lina, Thank you!
Thanks Jennifer, what a beautiful book! My niece is missing her graduation this year and we were just discussing what we can do for a gift.
Hi Mary, congratulations to your niece. It’s nice that you are thinking of new ways to help her celebrate. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
I love the looks and the size of the book plus text and illustrations so many parts to a picture book. good Job!
Thank you, Terri! HMH did a wonderful job and the book just feels so nice to hold. A few of the interior spreads that were in the picture book had to be cropped to be one page. But the book works quite well in this format (I think). Thank you for your kind words!
People in the Kidlit world DO have the most generous hearts!!!
❤️
My granddaughter is to graduate this year. She had already bought her prom dress and was looking forward to track season, prom and graduation. She wasn’t in school the day that they sent everyone home so she still has materials and stuff in her locker. A friend of hers grabbed her clarinet on his way out. I will be buying the book regardless if she is picked or not Looking forward to reading it myself
The boy who made me an Auntie, Nathan, is missing out this year on his graduation ceremony. So hard for these seniors!