Wings

by Jane Yolen, Dennis Nolan (Illustrator)

The story of Daedalus, the Greek master craftsman, who murdered his nephew because of envy, fled to Crete, and then, with his son, tried to fly away from Crete like a bird.

Genres: Picture Books, Mythology, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Library Binding

First published December 1, 1991

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[dianne b. · Rating 2 out of 5]

​The thing i love most about Greek myth is the rambunctious and occasionally naughty nature of the gods and goddesses; their inappropriate dabbling in the lives of mere mortals. How fun. Unfortunately in this particular spin on the Icarus story our deities are constantly present, irritatingly present - gods/desses hugely drawn in the clouds, their massive white heads - always contemplative, always with a thoughtful goatee caress (ala Freud). Actually quite JudeoChristian. Never naughty. i like to think of Zeus and Hera et al busy messing around, causing trouble - not singularly focused on one flawed, albeit talented, prince, as they are here. It is distracting from the otherwise nicely drawn illustrations, these massive white eyeballs peering down judgmentally.
Not the best telling of this important fable that warns of the dangers of hubris, a lesson a couple presidential candidates i can think of, could stand to hear. ​

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of the myth of Daedalus - prince, artist and master craftsman - whose hubris was punished by the gods, Wings chronicles its hero's many adventures, from his involvement in the saga of Theseus and the Minotaur, to his tragic flight with his son, Icarus.

Mentioned by the writers of antiquity, from Homer to Ovid, the story of Daedalus with which the modern reader is most familiar is actually the product of Thomas Bulfinch's 19th-century work, The Age of Fable . Yolen's version, accompanied by Dennis Nolan's beautiful watercolor illustrations, seems drawn from this source. It is a pleasure to read, and should entertain young Greek mythology enthusiasts everywhere.

[Cathy | A Case Full of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple telling of Daedalus and Icarus with gorgeous pictures to accompany it.

[R. C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Daedalus picture book (and I may have actually read them all). It tells his story most holistically from his early glory in Athens through Minos and the Minotaur and ending with Icarus' fall. The gods are present on every page.

[Sarah White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wings tells the fable of Daedalus and Icarus. This is a great story to use to teach students about pride, and self awareness.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Li no ensino fundamental e tenho comigo até hoje. As ilustrações e a linguagem poética me cativam até hoje. Sim, pretendo emoldurar o livro.

[Zamora Yerffej · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a retelling of the story of Daedalus very nicely done. Pictures are awesome and really as to the story.

[Cheryl]

for the illustrations by Nolan

[Shelby Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Wings
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Dennis Yolen
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Family, Loss, Tragedy
Opening line/sentence: "Once in Ancient Greece when the gods dwelt on a high mountain overseeing the world, there lived a man named Daedalus who was known for the things he made."
Brief Book Summary: Daedalus is a talented man who has favor with the gods. He is very prideful and runs into many problems throughout his life. He gets banished from Athens after the death of his nephew and rides in another area. There he is treasured by King Minos- who asks Daedalus to build a labyrinth to keep a minotaur in. Daedalus meets his wife and has a son named Icarus. One late day, people from Athens come seeking his help to defeat the Minotaur and save children from Athens. Daedalus betrays King Minos and aids them. When Minos hears of this he banishes Daedalus andIcarus into a tall tower. Together, Daedalus and Icarus collect feathers from birds to make wings for themselves to escape. Icarus flies too close to the sun and falls to his death into the ocean.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: 3) K-3 series. A thoughtful look at Daedalus, whose talent as an architect, sculptor, and inventor is offset, again and again, by both his pride and his misunderstanding of his place in the eyes of the gods. Lines spoken by a Greek chorus show the judgment of the gods as Daedalus finds fame then infamy in Athens, betrays Minos for Theseus and Ariadne, and then makes the ill-fated wings that cause his beloved son's death. The text is supported by vibrant watercolors.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (From Publishers Weekly
Yolen is in top form here in this polished, ardent retelling of the tragic Greek legend of Daedalus and his son Icarus. Banished from his beloved Athens for killing his nephew, the proud craftsman and inventor Daedalus finally lands on the island of Crete, where he designs the famed labyrinth in which the Minotaur is imprisoned. King Minos is enraged when Daedalus aids in killing the cruel beast and has him confined in a tower. Daedalus escapes with his son on wings made of bird feathers and wax, but the hapless boy plunges to his death. Yolen's elegant prose ("wingtip to wingtip they flew, writing the lines of their escape on the air") is matched by Nolan's sophisticated watercolors that, like the legend itself, provocatively blend reality and fantasy: as the story of Daedalus unfolds in the foreground, cloudlike gods look on from above. Beautifully printed on heavy, cream-colored stock, the book is as much a tactile treat as a visual and literary one. All ages. Response to Two Professional Reviews: The reviews mention the beautiful watercolor illustrations that I find very noteworthy, as they accompany the story well. One reviewer also talks about the "elegant prose" of the author, which I agree with. While the length of the story is long, the phrasing and plot line is easy to follow.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: There is a overarching plot of Daedalus, with shifting plot line once Icarus is born. The author does a good job setting the backstory of the book and giving a detailed picture of who Daedalus is. I found the illustrations to have bold features, with subtle details that captured the essence of the story (for example, the gods were painted into the clouds).
Consideration of Instructional Application: One way I might use this book in the classroom is with an analysis of artwork. I would show the students the watercolor pictures and have them try a piece of their own. I might also use this as a science lesson and have children construct their own wings out of various materials to see which group of students could engineer the strongest/most useful ones.

[Ashley Polansky]

Title: Wings
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Dennis Nolan
Genre: Myths
Theme(s): Loss (death), grief, love, family
Opening line/sentence:
Once in Ancient Greece, when the gods dwelt on a high mountain overseeing the world, there lived a man named Daedalus who was known for the things he made.
Brief Book Summary:: King Minos put Daedalus and his son in jail because he thought they disobeyed him. Daedalus and Icarus built wings, because they were banded from water and land, they were only left with air. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high or too low, for fear that the wings would get wet by the waters or wax would melt by the sun. Icarus got too close to the sun, his wings melted, and he landed in the water. Daedalus built a temple in Sicily in his remembrance.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Yolen is in top form here in this polished, ardent retelling of the tragic Greek legend of Daedalus and his son Icarus. Banished from his beloved Athens for killing his nephew, the proud craftsman and inventor Daedalus finally lands on the island of Crete, where he designs the famed labyrinth in which the Minotaur is imprisoned. King Minos is enraged when Daedalus aids in killing the cruel beast and has him confined in a tower. Daedalus escapes with his son on wings made of bird feathers and wax, but the hapless boy plunges to his death. Yolen's elegant prose (``wingtip to wingtip they flew, writing the lines of their escape on the air'') is matched by Nolan's sophisticated watercolors that, like the legend itself, provocatively blend reality and fantasy: as the story of Daedalus unfolds in the foreground, cloudlike gods look on from above. Beautifully printed on heavy, cream-colored stock, the book is as much a tactile treat as a visual and literary one. All ages. (Oct.)

Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman
When Daedalus designed wings so that he and his son Icarus could escape from their tower prison, the seeds of flight were planted in our minds and hearts. Yolen retells this myth dramatically and poetically. It is a tale of paternal love and youthful exuberance, feathered by flights of the imagination to reach for the stars. Nolan's paintings are so life-like and vivid that they literally leap off the pages.

Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews discuss the beautiful images painted by Nolan. They capture the feeling of the book and invite the reader into the story. This book captures the relationship between a father and his son and their journey.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The conflict in this story is the fact that they are locked up and have no way out. The resolution is the building of the wings to help them fly – because they still have air to take advantage of. In addition it is ironic that Daedalus warned Icarus about not flying too high or too low, and he happens to fly too high and his wings melt.
Consideration of Instructional Application:A teacher can print out templates of pictures of blank wings, and students can decorate them in their own unique way. It would be preferable for the students to use watercolors, because that is what Nolan used with the images in the book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assigned 398 as traditional literature by LOC, rather than the 290 assigned to mythology, even though the subject headings are for Greek mythology. The myth itself is told on the verso of the title page. And while this book purportedly tells the story of Icarus, there is no mention on the verso that Icarus is the son of Daedalus. That knowledge on the part of the reader is assumed. No specific attribution is given for this version of the myth, although Homer, Ovid and Apollodorus are mentioned as having written versions. The Greek passion for punishing hubris is cited as the core of every version. Daedalus, banished from Athens, is asked by Minos to build a labyrinth to hide the Minotaur. The tale is told in one typeface, with the opinion of the gods in italics. This use of different fonts helps to call attention to the beautiful illustrations, which have the gods in the background of each illustration, observing the mortals. Daedalus, confined to a prison in a tower due to his betrayal of Minos to Theseus, forms wings for himself and for Icarus from bird feathers and candle wax. Icarus forgets the warnings of his father, flies too close to the sun and the wax melts. Icarus drowns in what is now called the Icarian Sea.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get the theme. The author starts by claiming that the "gods always punish such a man" and repeats this same claim at the end. However, throughout the entire book, the gods never punish anyone or anything. They simply watch and react with emotion, never helping or hindering the plots as they unfold. So they never punished Daedalus, but the repetition of that phrase indicates that it was the main idea of the story. Right? What am I missing? Is it metaphorical and I'm completely missing it? I encourage anyone to help explain what I've missed...


Otherwise, the illustrations were great and its one of my favorite stories, but this version didn't quite succeed in adding enough detail to develop Daedalus as the vain, pompous (but complex) character that he surely was. It could have been better.

Also, I always thought that Icarus was an adolescent, which explained his actions, and I'm not quite sure why Yolen chose to make him a young boy in this one.

Perhaps it just suffers in comparison to the Daedalus of the Percy Jackson series. It is just a picture book, after all, not a novel. Perhaps my expectations are too high.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful telling of the story of Daedelus and his son Icarus and how Daedelus defies the gods and pays the ultimate price for his pride. The illustrations by Dennis Nolan add so much.

[Zehr]

how can i read this >.<

[Joenard]

to learn more in this story

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using as a mentor text read aloud for style

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the interpretation being inserted into the story, nor the pictures.

[Grace Anne]

oooooooooohhhh