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Wingwalker
Once upon a time in America, half the people lost every dime they ever had. Then the coming of the Dust Bowl hit as hard as a prairie tornado. Reuben, just completing second grade in Ambler, Oklahoma, has grown up knowing the richness of farm life. Now his father, desperate to make ends meet, takes a job as a wingwalker in a traveling county fair. Uprooted from the life he's loved and afraid of his own shadow, Reuben needs a full measure of love and courage to get by.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Wells
456 books381 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).
Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 4, 2010
This beautifully illustrated chapter-book tells the story of Reuben, and the summer his father ends up working for a traveling carnival in Minnesota. In the first chapter, we discover that Reuben is terrified of flying and heights when his cousin shames him into accepting a ride in an airplane, the fist prize awarded to a lucky audience member at the 1933 Oklahoma Air Races. Reuben also agrees to the heart-pounding ride because he knows his father would have loved the opportunity; he is crazy about airplanes and flying. Reuben does not want to disappoint his father, a dance instructor in Ambler, Oklahoma.
As the book continues, we learn that Reuben's mother is a cook at the local truck stop and that the family lives a comfortable, middle-class existence in the small, prairie town. Reuben seems to exist an a small-town idyll, with his father cooking griddle cakes on Sunday mornings proclaiming that "We live like kings" while Reuben recalls a Silver Dollar Indian Knife that "was the most beautiful thing I ever owned. That time was like warm air safely cupped in my hands." The Norman Rockwell-like illustrations of Brian Selznick complement this tone and vision, painting a picture of small town safety and comfort. As the story progresses, though, dust blows across Ambler, Oklahoma, bringing desperation and depression. Reuben's parents lose their jobs, and family friends move away out of economic necessity. The harsh realities of the Dust Bowl and Depression are given dimension to young readers through a poor dog passed from one family to another because people leave town and/or cannot feed the animal. Reuben's father takes a job as a night watchman at a local oil drilling station to try and make ends meet and one night Reuben and his mother watch a prairie fire blow-up a drill. With no information about which local oil drill blew-up, they spend a long night trying to comfort one another as they await news of fatalities. This scary incident again drives home the desperation of the times but might make the audience of this book more appropriate for eight or nine-year old students.
Eventually Reuben's father finds steady and well-paying work as a wingwalker for a traveling carnival in Minnesota. The entire family moves up North to join the traveling show. Reuben's father finds great success as the daredevil who walks on an airplane's wings while in flight. His mother starts cooking for the carnival folk,and Reuben's world expands rapidly through his interactions with the carnival people. His small-town provincialism slowly leaves him, so much so that he can brave his fear of heights at the end of the book to walk the wings with his father. I like that the book closes with the end of the carnival season. There is no promise that things will get better for Reuben and his family. Reuben realizes that there really is no Ambler, Oklahoma to return to because of the ravages of the Dust Bowl. Yet - the book ends on an optimistic tone with "the clean sunny air rushed over and around (Reuben and his father) as if we were birds" up on the wing of the airplane. This book spares children many of the harsh realities of the Great Depression, but indirectly discusses the events through the choices and losses of Reuben's family. Children would need some basic background on these events because the book assumes a certain level of knowledge. I think that the short chapter-book also invites conversation about "others" in terms of the carnival folk. That is to say, children might think about why such people (like a black man and an illiterate farm boy) end up in this line of work during this time period but also what they teach Reuben about himself and his world. Often times people undervalued by society have a lot to teach that society.
As the book continues, we learn that Reuben's mother is a cook at the local truck stop and that the family lives a comfortable, middle-class existence in the small, prairie town. Reuben seems to exist an a small-town idyll, with his father cooking griddle cakes on Sunday mornings proclaiming that "We live like kings" while Reuben recalls a Silver Dollar Indian Knife that "was the most beautiful thing I ever owned. That time was like warm air safely cupped in my hands." The Norman Rockwell-like illustrations of Brian Selznick complement this tone and vision, painting a picture of small town safety and comfort. As the story progresses, though, dust blows across Ambler, Oklahoma, bringing desperation and depression. Reuben's parents lose their jobs, and family friends move away out of economic necessity. The harsh realities of the Dust Bowl and Depression are given dimension to young readers through a poor dog passed from one family to another because people leave town and/or cannot feed the animal. Reuben's father takes a job as a night watchman at a local oil drilling station to try and make ends meet and one night Reuben and his mother watch a prairie fire blow-up a drill. With no information about which local oil drill blew-up, they spend a long night trying to comfort one another as they await news of fatalities. This scary incident again drives home the desperation of the times but might make the audience of this book more appropriate for eight or nine-year old students.
Eventually Reuben's father finds steady and well-paying work as a wingwalker for a traveling carnival in Minnesota. The entire family moves up North to join the traveling show. Reuben's father finds great success as the daredevil who walks on an airplane's wings while in flight. His mother starts cooking for the carnival folk,and Reuben's world expands rapidly through his interactions with the carnival people. His small-town provincialism slowly leaves him, so much so that he can brave his fear of heights at the end of the book to walk the wings with his father. I like that the book closes with the end of the carnival season. There is no promise that things will get better for Reuben and his family. Reuben realizes that there really is no Ambler, Oklahoma to return to because of the ravages of the Dust Bowl. Yet - the book ends on an optimistic tone with "the clean sunny air rushed over and around (Reuben and his father) as if we were birds" up on the wing of the airplane. This book spares children many of the harsh realities of the Great Depression, but indirectly discusses the events through the choices and losses of Reuben's family. Children would need some basic background on these events because the book assumes a certain level of knowledge. I think that the short chapter-book also invites conversation about "others" in terms of the carnival folk. That is to say, children might think about why such people (like a black man and an illiterate farm boy) end up in this line of work during this time period but also what they teach Reuben about himself and his world. Often times people undervalued by society have a lot to teach that society.
January 2, 2015
A lovely depression era story of a boy who's family joins a barnstorming carnival - his dad is the wingwalker. The illustrations are incredible - Selznick is the modern Sendak.
June 3, 2017
This is a gorgeous little piece of historical fiction for children, centered around the adventuresome spirit of the early days of aviation. The illustrations are beautiful.
The historical lesson about the Dust Bowl of the 1930's is poignant, offered from the perspective of a child just becoming aware of his place in the world around him: "Suddenly I knew there was no more 3rd grade class to go back to." Equally important is the narrator's realization that he is less afraid of the side show freaks at the county fair than of his mean cousin Mary Ellen.
This book is full of wonderful moments, and profoundly hopeful. There are so many stories and emotions packed in, it is sometimes hard to follow -- but well worth the effort.
The historical lesson about the Dust Bowl of the 1930's is poignant, offered from the perspective of a child just becoming aware of his place in the world around him: "Suddenly I knew there was no more 3rd grade class to go back to." Equally important is the narrator's realization that he is less afraid of the side show freaks at the county fair than of his mean cousin Mary Ellen.
This book is full of wonderful moments, and profoundly hopeful. There are so many stories and emotions packed in, it is sometimes hard to follow -- but well worth the effort.
April 18, 2023
A beautiful look at a time in history kids don't get to read about much. Would make a great author's craft study. Teachers and parents fyi: you'll need to talk to your kids about the way race was talked about during the 1920s and 1930s, and how language has changed and the words used in the book aren't appropriate anymore.
I really enjoyed this.
I really enjoyed this.
October 23, 2017
This is one of those white-washed children's historical fiction stories that somehow manages to coast right over all the death, sickness, and racism of the time and place it portrays. It's a cute story -- but not cute enough to make up for that unforgivable sin.
December 2, 2017
Novella set during the Dust Bowl era about a boy whose father takes a job as a wingwalker in a carnival.
Quick read that didn't really stay with me, but I picked it up in the first place because I always love Selznick's illustrations. They didn't disappoint - otherwise, this one was just ok.
Quick read that didn't really stay with me, but I picked it up in the first place because I always love Selznick's illustrations. They didn't disappoint - otherwise, this one was just ok.
August 14, 2018
Wingwalker is from the point of a young boy who chronicles his father's love of airplanes and subsequent career as a dancing wingwalker.
Its a simple story with a choppy flow but I like how it transported me to a certain time in middle America.
Its a simple story with a choppy flow but I like how it transported me to a certain time in middle America.
February 17, 2021
Sparse, wistful and elegiac. A touching coming-of-age depression-era tale that highlights man’s ability to soar in spite of his circumstances. Beautifully illustrated. Well-developed characters and themes.
October 7, 2017
Beautiful illustrations. Story just wasn't my cup of tea. Not anything specific but I just didn't jive with it.
November 13, 2017
Wells’ writing is so vivid it renders the graphic novel format almost unnecessary.
May 14, 2019
Fun piece of fiction to share with kiddos while studying the great depression.
October 7, 2021
Very nice read.
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July 23, 2024Glimpse of life pre-Depression and during. Honest, yet not despairing. Narrator slowly builds confidence as he learns from a wide variety of new friends.
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June 23, 2014The story has to do with a kid that when he was growing up that there was a old abandoned highway close to his home where they raced airplanes and his dad loved airplanes and he took his kids there to go see the planes and during the event the loudspeaker said there was a person with a winning number on their ticket that gets a chance to take a ride in the airplane.Reuben was his name had the prize ticket but is sister wanted to win but Reuben had it and he tired to let go of the ticket to fly away cause he was to scared to go on the airplane ride so he said for his father to take his ride because according to him his father would give his right arm for a ride and Reuben thought that his sister would make fun at school on Monday to everyone before the pledge of allegiance.Without his permission they put him in the airplane and the pilot asked him for his name and took on him on a crazy plane ride.His mother had to give him a tea to calm his nerves cause he was still panicked after the ride.His Father was a dancer and one day his father lost his job and then some time later so his mother and his mother was a chief that cooked food and his father ended up finding a job a the train station a night for five dollars a week.There was a fire one day and his father was there and Reuben and his mother were home at night worried all night and Reuben drank coffee with sugar to stay up with his mother.Time passed and his father got home and they were still unemployed and he seen a job for the circus in the newspaper for twenty dollars a week and his father said yes and his mother said no thinking the worse.They sold all their furniture to by a Studebaker a car at the time and left to Minnesota and got the job and him and his son stood out and the wings on the plane and danced and looked like birds high in the sky.
February 14, 2012
For second grader Reuben life is peaceful and happy in Oklahoma where his dad is a dance instructor and his mom a cook at the town cafe. All that changes when the 1933 Dust Bowl hits the town ruining crops and causing people to flee to other states. Reuben’s parents lose their jobs and his dad almost loses his life in an oil fire. They decide to leave for Minnesota where Reuben’s dad becomes a wingwalker for the circus and his mother cooks. Many of the characters Reuben meets are “different” and find happiness in being accepted by the other circus members.
This book has great details and is a slice of life back in the 30′s when times were difficult. The tension comes from Reuben’s fear of heights, job loss, danger of oil job, and danger of wingwalking. Reuben expresses and narrates the story from the viewpoint of a kid. At the end Reuben has to face his fears. The author does a nice job connecting the beginning and end so the reader comes full circle in the story. Some readers might find Reuben’s narration boring – the voice isn’t unique or strong.
My library reading level says 5.6 which I think is too high. Scholastic lists the reading level as 4.2 which is more realistic. The photos and story will appeal to third or fourth graders. It would be a good book to discuss fears, courage, and accepting others who are “different”. I will have to try it as a read aloud and see what the students think of it.
This book has great details and is a slice of life back in the 30′s when times were difficult. The tension comes from Reuben’s fear of heights, job loss, danger of oil job, and danger of wingwalking. Reuben expresses and narrates the story from the viewpoint of a kid. At the end Reuben has to face his fears. The author does a nice job connecting the beginning and end so the reader comes full circle in the story. Some readers might find Reuben’s narration boring – the voice isn’t unique or strong.
My library reading level says 5.6 which I think is too high. Scholastic lists the reading level as 4.2 which is more realistic. The photos and story will appeal to third or fourth graders. It would be a good book to discuss fears, courage, and accepting others who are “different”. I will have to try it as a read aloud and see what the students think of it.
November 18, 2015
This picture book tells the story of a family hit hard by the Dust Bowl. To make money, the family has to leave Ambler, OK and head to St. Louis where they join a traveling fair. Reuben, the son, learns from the fair folk. His mother cooks for them all. His father, a former ballroom dancing teacher, becomes a Wing Walker: Someone who walks out onto the wings of an airplane in mid-air.
Reuben is the narrator of this story. I think that's a wise choice; to describe the trails and tribulations of life during the Dust Bowl from the perspective of a child-- considering the intended audience. However, I felt like Reuben's voice is not unique, and I found that I was not invested in what happened to him or his family.
Strangely, this book is titled Wingwalker, which implies this is the focus of the book. I felt like I wasn't certain where the book was going, or why Wing Walking was so important to Reuben. In retrospect, the focus of the book is about overcoming fears, for which becoming a Wingwalker certainly is a representation of that. The fact that I missed that when I was reading the book shows how… all over the place I felt like the writing was.
All in all, it was beautifully illustrated and an interesting story. However, I was not captured by much.
I recommend this to anyone who is trying to talk about overcoming fears to children, or those who want to talk about the Dust Bowl to their kids.
Reuben is the narrator of this story. I think that's a wise choice; to describe the trails and tribulations of life during the Dust Bowl from the perspective of a child-- considering the intended audience. However, I felt like Reuben's voice is not unique, and I found that I was not invested in what happened to him or his family.
Strangely, this book is titled Wingwalker, which implies this is the focus of the book. I felt like I wasn't certain where the book was going, or why Wing Walking was so important to Reuben. In retrospect, the focus of the book is about overcoming fears, for which becoming a Wingwalker certainly is a representation of that. The fact that I missed that when I was reading the book shows how… all over the place I felt like the writing was.
All in all, it was beautifully illustrated and an interesting story. However, I was not captured by much.
I recommend this to anyone who is trying to talk about overcoming fears to children, or those who want to talk about the Dust Bowl to their kids.
March 4, 2016
This was a great book to read for me. Historical fiction was a genre that was particularly interesting for me to read and this book fit that criteria. I personally was able to feel like the characters were coming to life and felt as if they were real people. This takes time during the dust bowl and has a list of problems that comes with this time period.
The illustrations made the characters come to life and gave them the appearance of reality. The author does a great job of using the appropriate dialouge and has the illustrator use water colors in an excellent way. I think the author did a fair job of making the scene in the back fit to the text.
I found this book to be quite long for this age group. The illustrations did do a great job of capturing the audience but it honestly didn't appeal the reader for very long. However, I found this book quite informative and a great segway to this point in time.
The illustrations made the characters come to life and gave them the appearance of reality. The author does a great job of using the appropriate dialouge and has the illustrator use water colors in an excellent way. I think the author did a fair job of making the scene in the back fit to the text.
I found this book to be quite long for this age group. The illustrations did do a great job of capturing the audience but it honestly didn't appeal the reader for very long. However, I found this book quite informative and a great segway to this point in time.
April 23, 2014
Charming sepia-washed color illustrations by Brian Selznick evoked the sense of an era ensconced in Dust Bowl days; they were a perfect accompaniment to Rosemary Wells' story about a little boy learning big life lessons about fear, loss, misconceptions, dreams, and survival. That's a great deal to put into a slim chapter book, but Wells does it with subtlety and beauty. My only regret is that the book seemed to end abruptly, but that may be more my problem than the author's--I wasn't ready for the story to finish. Oh, and while I'm being greedy, I would have loved more of Selznick's artwork, too.
I look forward to reading this aloud to my imaginary grandchildren. Recommended for grades 2-5.
I look forward to reading this aloud to my imaginary grandchildren. Recommended for grades 2-5.
January 17, 2016
The text is extremely dull, with sentence after unimaginatively constructed routine sentence. "My father was a barrel-shaped man with small shiny feet in Ever-Glo Quality shoes. He liked nothing more than airplanes. Father took me and my cousin, Mary Ellen Hockerbee, out to see them race" (p.2). Subject-verb-object. The "period" language feels contrived and inauthentic. The story itself lacks drama and art, with a very unsatisfying conclusion.
The illustrations are also lackluster. Brian Selznick, it seems, has a high opinion of himself (since he feels it necessary to include so many, many pictures in his own books), but his artistic talent is not apparent. His drawings are elementary - they look like the work of a schoolkid. His faces, particularly, are unrealistic.
The illustrations are also lackluster. Brian Selznick, it seems, has a high opinion of himself (since he feels it necessary to include so many, many pictures in his own books), but his artistic talent is not apparent. His drawings are elementary - they look like the work of a schoolkid. His faces, particularly, are unrealistic.
November 27, 2011
Color illustrations by Brian Selznick highlight this depression era story about hard times and fears in Oklahoma and what it takes to overcome them.
When both Reuben's parents lose their jobs due to the Dust Bowl, Reuben's father is desperate to find work. He accepts a job as a *wingwalker, a dangerous occupation, that results in the family selling all they have and becoming part of an act that travels from county fair to county fair in the summer of 1934.
*Seen in airshows and barnstorming during the 1920s, wing walking is the act of moving on the wings of an airplane during flight.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_walker
When both Reuben's parents lose their jobs due to the Dust Bowl, Reuben's father is desperate to find work. He accepts a job as a *wingwalker, a dangerous occupation, that results in the family selling all they have and becoming part of an act that travels from county fair to county fair in the summer of 1934.
*Seen in airshows and barnstorming during the 1920s, wing walking is the act of moving on the wings of an airplane during flight.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_walker
May 25, 2015
The great dust bowl stole so much from every day people. They had jobs that they lost and had to move onto something different if they could. After DB, you couldn't even grow stink on a monkey.
Ruebens parents both had jobs and then the dust came in. Turning it into a dying town. Making them lose everything.
Then his father gets an opportunity of a lifetime. Being a wingwalker at a traveling carnival. His walks the wings of a plane and maybe dances a wee bit. By the end of summer, Pa and boy will be up there together.
A beautiful story and incredible illustrations to go with. How to pick up the pieces of your life in a unfamiliar place.
Ruebens parents both had jobs and then the dust came in. Turning it into a dying town. Making them lose everything.
Then his father gets an opportunity of a lifetime. Being a wingwalker at a traveling carnival. His walks the wings of a plane and maybe dances a wee bit. By the end of summer, Pa and boy will be up there together.
A beautiful story and incredible illustrations to go with. How to pick up the pieces of your life in a unfamiliar place.
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July 1, 2014This is a very interesting book to me, i think this is a good book for a 10 year old child to sit down with his or her parent or teacher to read one day.
The Wing Walker Rose Mary Wells book is some what big with a couple of chapters, It is very realistic when I started reading this book the first chapter reminded me of my brother and I with all the sassiness.
the wings walker book is good because it just tells you how good that the son and father relationship. It's a close best friend type of relationship.
The Wing Walker Rose Mary Wells book is some what big with a couple of chapters, It is very realistic when I started reading this book the first chapter reminded me of my brother and I with all the sassiness.
the wings walker book is good because it just tells you how good that the son and father relationship. It's a close best friend type of relationship.
March 4, 2010
Format: Chapter Book
Interest Level: 2nd/3rd grade
Set during the Great Depression, this transitional chapter book tells the story Reuben and his family. Reuben is a second grade who has to learn to overcome his fears when his family has to move to Minnesota for his father to find work. His dad takes a job as an airplane "wingwalker" in a traveling carnival. Reuben with the help of his friends at the carnival, overcomes of his fears and finds self-acceptance.
Interest Level: 2nd/3rd grade
Set during the Great Depression, this transitional chapter book tells the story Reuben and his family. Reuben is a second grade who has to learn to overcome his fears when his family has to move to Minnesota for his father to find work. His dad takes a job as an airplane "wingwalker" in a traveling carnival. Reuben with the help of his friends at the carnival, overcomes of his fears and finds self-acceptance.
April 30, 2013
gr 3-6 63pgs
Midwest 1933. 2nd grader Reuben can't imagine living anywhere other than his small town of Ambler, Oklahoma. Between the Depression and the Dust Bowl, Reuben's family isn't able to make ends meet. His father, who has always loved airplanes, decides to take a job as a wingwalker. Life at the county fair is amazing. Reuben meets all sorts of people with all sorts of talents (fire swallowing, juggling etc).
Midwest 1933. 2nd grader Reuben can't imagine living anywhere other than his small town of Ambler, Oklahoma. Between the Depression and the Dust Bowl, Reuben's family isn't able to make ends meet. His father, who has always loved airplanes, decides to take a job as a wingwalker. Life at the county fair is amazing. Reuben meets all sorts of people with all sorts of talents (fire swallowing, juggling etc).
October 26, 2013
A historical fiction chapter book that follows a young depression-era boy whose father makes ends meet by becoming a wingwalker in a travelling fair after the dust-bowl hits and takes their farm. Captures an important part of American history from the perspective of a child and how he needs bravery and love to overcome his fears. Would link well with a social studies unit on the Great Depression.
Grade: 3-5
grade level: 4.2
Lexile: 650L
Guided reading: O
Grade: 3-5
grade level: 4.2
Lexile: 650L
Guided reading: O
February 29, 2016
Wingwalker by Rosemary Wells illustrated by Brian Selznick
4 stars
This is an early chapter book about a young boy whose life is changed by the dust bowl and the great depression. To support the family, his father takes a job as a wingwalker with a traveling carnival while his mother cooks for the fair workers. It’s a sweet story about overcoming fears and prejudices. The illustrations are beautiful and accurately depict the times. My only complaint, not enough pictures.
4 stars
This is an early chapter book about a young boy whose life is changed by the dust bowl and the great depression. To support the family, his father takes a job as a wingwalker with a traveling carnival while his mother cooks for the fair workers. It’s a sweet story about overcoming fears and prejudices. The illustrations are beautiful and accurately depict the times. My only complaint, not enough pictures.
April 26, 2016
This is a perfect short chapter book read aloud to use when introducing a unit on the Depression Era or the Dust Bowl. I've got to admit that while I don't quite know the purpose of the story, I really enjoyed it and it does give a solid feel for the historical time period. A discussion on bravery and overcoming fears would fit right in, too. I love that Brian Selznick illustrated this and that bumps it up to 4 stars for me!
April 1, 2014
It is a little long for the little ones, but you could split it up into 2 or 3 sessions. There aren't very many pictures. It is more like a short chapter book (it does actually have 5 chapters, I think). Great story about a little boy during the dust bowl and his father's chance to live a dream. Lots of good lessons to be learned, history, geography, what we miss when we judge others, etc.
June 24, 2014
In America, half the people lost every dime they had. Then the droughts of the dust Bowl hit as hard as a prairie tornado. Reuben, just finishing second grade in Ambler, Oklahoma, has grown up knowing the peacefulness of small town life. Suddenly the secure life he's loved has vanished, and Reuben needs a full meausre of love and courage to get by.
September 9, 2014
I really liked this short historical fiction chapter book. It gives a good slice of life during the Dust Bowl, and takes a great turn when the family moves to Minnesota to join the fair. There were some great poetic turns of phrase by Rosemary Wells. I love the art by Brian Selznick, too. He has a distinctly "American" feel to his art, which works well for this distinctly American book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews