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If I Never Forever Endeavor
by
Holly Meade
A fledgling teeters at the edge of his nest in a gorgeously illustrated tale sure to resonate with anyone facing a rite of passage, change, or challenge.
Safe inside his cozy nest, a young bird considers whether or not to give his new wings a try. What if he tries and the wings don’t work, and he flails, plummets, and looks foolish? Then again, what if his wings take him sw...more
Safe inside his cozy nest, a young bird considers whether or not to give his new wings a try. What if he tries and the wings don’t work, and he flails, plummets, and looks foolish? Then again, what if his wings take him sw...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
April 12th 2011
by Candlewick Press
(first published March 18th 2011)
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Capturing the tension of a fledgling about to leave the nest, this picture book celebrates taking chances and testing your wings. A small yellow bird muses on what would happen if they just stay in the safety of their nest, because though there would be new things to see, there is also plenty to fear. Of course, if they stay, then there is no flying, no soaring, and no making a new friend to share the air with. This book will speak to anyone looking to make a change, try something new, or just t...more
•Brief summary
This bird goes back and forth trying to decide if he should try and fly. He is worried about failing when he tries, but how awesome if would be if he could. So he tries and he flies. He even found a new friend. Very cute book.
•Audience
This book was intended fro Kindergarten or first grade.
•Appeal
Great for younger ages because of the poem/rhyming sentences that keep everything together. This pictures are kind of funny, and relate-able because everyone is scared to try something n...more
This bird goes back and forth trying to decide if he should try and fly. He is worried about failing when he tries, but how awesome if would be if he could. So he tries and he flies. He even found a new friend. Very cute book.
•Audience
This book was intended fro Kindergarten or first grade.
•Appeal
Great for younger ages because of the poem/rhyming sentences that keep everything together. This pictures are kind of funny, and relate-able because everyone is scared to try something n...more
While the message of courage and risk-taking is not new, Meade employs interesting structure and word choice in this tale about a fledgling bird who fears learning to fly.
I think I might have found a contender for the 2012 Caldecott! What an absolutely beautiful story, with a message that we all need to hear at times. In this rhyming story we read the thoughts of a young bird in its nest, trying to get up the courage to fly. He considers the pros and cons of trying, and finally... but you'll have to read it! The illustrations appear to be (but I'm no expert) painted woodcuts, simple and colored with soft pastels. The bird is cute, and the text is simple enough, e...more
LOVE! Middle school students would certainly understand the theme in this book.
I could use this as a beginning of the year read aloud to my middle grade students. (A bird contemplates whether it should try flying or not.)
I could also see myself reading this immediately after Christmas break when students are ready to try again; it's a new year, after all. "I suppose I could try a little flap, a flutter...or two!"
Or I might send my students out to summer and their life beyond by reading this book...more
I could use this as a beginning of the year read aloud to my middle grade students. (A bird contemplates whether it should try flying or not.)
I could also see myself reading this immediately after Christmas break when students are ready to try again; it's a new year, after all. "I suppose I could try a little flap, a flutter...or two!"
Or I might send my students out to summer and their life beyond by reading this book...more
A little bird, sitting in his nest, ponders the advantages and disadvantages of trying to fly. Weighing things out before making a decision, and then acting upon that decision, we are taken on a journey that all of us have faced and will continue to face in the future.
I picked this up because I could see the potential for using it with my students.
I finished it because, well, it is a picture book. There is no real reason not to finish it.
I would recommend this to Laura, again, as I know she will...more
I picked this up because I could see the potential for using it with my students.
I finished it because, well, it is a picture book. There is no real reason not to finish it.
I would recommend this to Laura, again, as I know she will...more
This book is written in poetry form and is very inspirational. It is a good book to use with younger students about how it is important to take risks and always try things even if they seem difficult or scary. A bird is trying to weigh the pros and cons of flying and leaving the nest. Finally, the bird decides it is worth it to give it a try. The bird has trouble at first, but finally figures out how to fly, loves it, and even meets a new friend. This book has a good message; always push yoursel...more
36 months - we read this book in the morning and in the afternoon O climbed the chain ladder at the playground for the first time and then repeated it about twenty times! She's always been a swing kid and 98% of the time never even touches the climbing equipment and slides. Yay for books! If you don't try you'll never know if you can do it. Now I hear myself saying to her "be brave and give it a try, you won't know if you don't try". :)
I chose this as the first book to make my seven-year-old read aloud this summer. I did not realize how perfect it would be. The illustrations interested her enough that I could distract her a little from how much she hates reading, and the repetition of the poetry helped her recognize new words. Most importantly, the message of the book was heartening for us both. You don't know how good it can be if you never try.
What happens if you never try anything new? How will you know if you like it? How will you know if you’re good at it? This is the theme of Holly Meade’s book. A young fledgling wonders if he should leave his nice warm nest and try to fly? He wants to try but he’s afraid he’ll fail. Finally he tries and it is wonderful. Great book with a good message.
All in all, I think this book loses some of its charm because of the awkwardness of some of the writing. I love the introduction of new words, but it felt forced in this book, and each of the rhymes using "endeavor" distracted me from the story by grating on my nerves. That said, the message is an important one for kids and adults of all ages, and the illustrations make this a perfect springtime read. Pair it with Birds by Kevin Henkes or Forever Friends by Carin Berger for a bird-themed story t...more
What review of this did I read and what controlled substance was I on when I read it?
This is a Blue Mountain greeting card for adults, not a picture book for children. The art work is lovely, the text is awkward, overly verbose, and suitable to be given along with "Oh the Places You'll Go" to graduating students. It should have been marketed as such.
This is a Blue Mountain greeting card for adults, not a picture book for children. The art work is lovely, the text is awkward, overly verbose, and suitable to be given along with "Oh the Places You'll Go" to graduating students. It should have been marketed as such.
"Cute story about taking the risks needed to grow. Julie says this can be given to graduates instead of Oh, the Places You'll Go!." - Becky, Teen Librarian
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This little book endeavors to be clever with the way it weaves all the text together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it stumbles. It'd be a tough book for read-aloud, and isn't really suitable for a preschool audience. This might be worth introducing to reluctant poetry readers in first and second grade for their poetry unit.
1 like · like · see review
Above all else, the art will intrigue young readers- a blend of watercolor wash, collage, and paper cuts. Combine that with a bird voicing the common fear of trying something new- scary but tempting- and it is bound to find fans. I can see this as a gift book for graduates in the same vein as Seuss's OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO.
The illustrations are gorgeous, and at least some of the text pleasing to the ear. In a few places the rhyme and rhythm were awkward. The language isn't suited to young children, and although that can be okay when the sounds are especially melodic and the idea is clearly conveyed, this one misses the mark just a little.
With amazing illustrations of adorable little birds, this book addresses everyone’s fears and insecurities about trying something new. The sweet story chronicles the adventures of an adorable little bird as he dares to take flight. The focus is on the fact that you will never know if you don’t try.
A little bird is rethinking flying--the nest is cozy, and the branch high up. This is a good book to give to new graduates, or anyone on the brink of change. Between the gorgeously simple, spacious, colorful art and the marvelously flowing and playful text, this is a truly lovely book.
This book was great and had great illustrations. I loved the trees and the birds. It also meant a lot to me when I read it because I needed the extra push in college and a teacher told me, "Fly away little birdy." She was pushing me away from the nest to the next step.
A yellow bird is afraid to leave the nest. It finally decides to take the plunge. Rocky start, then, Soars! "If I hadn't endeavored and found my wings clever, I never a sky would have sailed..." Brave yellow bird. Plump. Cute. Love how it peeks out of the nest fearfully.
Beautiful and uplifting! Great language and an encouraging message: "to try." Caldecott-honor winning author uses cut paper to illustrate the birds dilemma. Put this one on the shelf right beside Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss.
"If in all of forever, I never endeavor to fly, I won`t know if I can. I won`t know if I can`t. I won`t know if or whether a flight I might fly, should I choose to not ever give it a try." This fantastic picture book speaks in rhyme about the uncertainties of change. This is about the fear of failure that keeps someone from even trying rather than spreading their wings to see if they fly. Even if there`s a little flailing about at first. This book is not only great for young children, but any pe...more
Such a sweet little book with an important message about trying. Very poetic text and cute paper collage illustrations.
This book would even make a nice gift for a friend who needs some encouragement or a new grad.
This book would even make a nice gift for a friend who needs some encouragement or a new grad.
I would highly recommend this book because it discusses how people should never give up. The illistrations are incredible and are very detailed. There could be great grand conversation with this book!
Labored rhymes, ordinary illustrations. This one didn't take off for me- though I get the message. I did like the use of language and the unapologetic introduction of interesting words into a picture book.
This is one of those picture books that children will like but adults will love. Beautiful illustrations. Fun and flowing language. A sweet message about needing to take risks to get the most out of life.
Charming collage/watercolor illustrations, uplifting message about a baby bird overcoming fear of failure, but rhyming 'forever' and 'endeavor'? This book would have been better off wordless.
A short picture book about the importance of taking chances. I think the idea of the story went over my kids' head because of the way it was presented but they enjoyed the illustrations.
"On the one wing" oh how I love this line :)
THis was a sweet book, and would be good to read to school children. Kind of a 'I think I can, I think I can' encouragement type book.
THis was a sweet book, and would be good to read to school children. Kind of a 'I think I can, I think I can' encouragement type book.
"How do you know if you don't like it, unless you try it?" is what we usually tell our children. What's it like to pluck sweet bug from the sky? Endeavor to fly
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Holly Meade is the illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including ON MORNING WINGS by Reeve Lindbergh.
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Aug 06, 2011 09:15pm