Taking Flight: A book of heartache and hope

Last year, Kashmira Sheth sent me a PDF of TAKING FLIGHT, her upcoming picture book with Nicolò Carozzi. Would I, she asked, consider writing a blurb for it?

I read the book and instantly realized two things.

1. I absolutely would be writing a blurb.
2. Coming up with words to do this book justice was going to be difficult.

Here’s what ended up going on the back of the book:

“With gorgeous language, sweeping illustrations, and an abundance of compassion, this book shares the heartache and hope that bring many families to a new life in a new land.”

And, it wasn’t just my words that were printed there. They were right next to a quote from THE Jacqueline Woodson, who wrote:

“This book is truly as stunning as it is timely. I read it with my heart in my mouth and was reminded once again of the beauty, resilience and grace of young people.”

If you’ve heard me speak, you might remember me mentioning that my criteria for a truly excellent picture book is whether I want to hug it. Let me officially state that I do want to hug this book. I also want to feed it chicken-noodle soup, tuck it safely into bed, and sing it a lullaby while simultaneously encouraging every single person I’ve ever met to read it.

Yeah. It’s that good.

So, you might rightfully wonder, what’s this book actually about? It follows three families from three different, but unnamed countries, who end up in refugee camp for a variety of reasons before finding permanent homes in a new, also unnamed, land.

This is a book that is meant to be read out loud. And, you really should do that as soon as possible. I sat in my office and read it to myself and my cats and felt things.

The language is lyrical and evocative. While the story is about an experience many of us may never have, the way the story is told is stunningly simple and universal — because it’s about family, love, journeys, change and what it means to be home.

And, oh, the art. Nicolò’s illustrations are remarkable. Each family looks — for want of a better description — so amazingly human. These are people you might have met, or seen in a store. Their emotions and lives are all over their faces. And each child in each family has something they’ve brought from home and shoes that reflect the miles they’ve traveled.

Together, the story and illustrations bring these families to life. You want them to be happy and healthy and safe and find friends and happiness. You also may want to hug them, feed them chicken-noodle soup, tuck them safely into bed and sing them a lullaby.

It’s impossible to read this book and not think of the world’s current state of affairs and of all the people needing a new beginning somewhere other than where they started out.

It’s also impossible not to ponder the various ways these refugees can be received when they arrive. Columnist Heidi Stevens has called books “little empathy gardens,” and this book certainly is that.

I hope it encourages you to ponder what’s growing in your community’s garden.

TAKING FLIGHT comes out April 21 from dearly departed Dial Books for Young Readers. You can pre-order it from any in-person or online bookseller or place a hold at a public library.

Kashmira was born in Bhavanger, Gujart, India and immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 where she became a scientist and an author. Nicolò is a Veronese architect, teacher and illustrator.

Happy reading!