The Kite Festival

by Leyla Torres

One Sunday morning, Fernando Flórez, his parents, grandparents, and sister head to a random destination for an outing -- San Vicente. When they arrive in the center of town, they see many people preparing for a kite festival. The Flórez family waste no time joining in the fun. Unfortunately, all the stores are closed, so buying a kite's out. But by using their ingenuity -- along with found objects -- they successfully put one together. Although they encounter some challenges along the way, they can always find a solution with a little thinking. A surprise comes at the end of the day, with the mayor of San Vicente on hand to deliver it.

A warm family story set at a festival much like one Leyla Torres attended as a child in her native country of Colombia.

Genres: Picture Books, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2004

Reviews

[Tracy Holland]

Grandpa and the family head out on a trip for the weekend. They stumble upon a kite festival. Eager to be a part of the festival, Fernando and his family use tools that they have at hand to create a kite and take part in the festival. Creativity, ingenuity and working together are themes in this book.

[Whole And]

A sweet tale of a young boy and a last minute kite creation from his grandfather.
Hexagonal kite design included.

[Becky Birtha]

Fernando shuts his eyes and puts his finger on Grandpa's map, choosing the destination for the Colombian Flórez family's road trip to the town of San Vicente. When they reach San Vicente and realize a kite festival is going on, all family members contribute assorted objects and talents, resulting in a kite they can fly in the festival. Though I wished for a a bit more of a sense of action in the paintings, and less views of people standing around, the illustrations are cheerful and colorful, are clearly not in the United States, and you can't help liking the family. A bonus was the instructions, at the end, for making the kite.

[Paula]

A great story that is quit long for the little ones but could be done with a felt set to create a kite while it comes a long in the story for the kids to see
While on a Sunday outing, Fernando and his family encounter a kite festival and decide to create a kite from scrap materials so that they can join in.

[Samantha]

A family heads out for a picninc and spies a kite festival about to start. They quickly rig up a kite from materials they have on hand and end up receiving a prize for the most original kite.

Instructions for making a hexagonal kite are included following the story.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Read at preschool story time on 3/8/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Trisan]

Great family book.