Nine-year-old Skye has always had a fascination with flying. She’d love to be a pilot someday, like both of her parents, but deep down she really wishes she could be a bird.
When Skye’s parents take her to Costa Rica, she is thrilled about all of the beautiful exotic birds she’ll get to see. What she doesn’t realize is that her parents have three big surprises planned, and each will offer her a different opportunity to feel what it’s like to fly. From snorkeling with baby sea turtles to parasailing out on the open ocean to zip-lining through the Costa Rican rainforest, Skye will have more than one chance to fly like a bird before this trip of a lifetime is through.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
"[Offers] an age-appropriate plot and realistic characters while appealing to a wide audience of readers gaining confidence in independent reading. This particular story also includes aspects of character development. Skye’s parents are both airline pilots, touching on gender equality. Skye hopes that when she grows up she’ll have a different profession than her parents, reenforcing the idea of individuality...Skye’s love and experience of animals throughout the book will appeal to readers who enjoy an animal story, as well as readers who enjoy adventure."
"The story moves along at a fast pace and manages to pack in a great deal of unobtrusive background detail about outdoor activities and rain forest flora and fauna. Full-page black-and-white line drawings align closely with the text and effectively convey Skye’s continuing delight and wonder. Emerging and newly independent readers will enjoy the unfolding story and appreciate the accessible vocabulary and logical sequencing. This should be equally popular with boys and girls, and it definitely deserves a spot in school and public library high/low collection."
"Throughout all of the adventures in the book, the reader incidentally learns about the geography and exotic birds and wildlife of Costa Rica. And although the three birthday surprises may seem extravagant there is no sense of entitlement from Skye, instead only gratitude and sincere wishes for her parents to
also fulfill their deepest dreams."
"An easy chapter book filled with adventure...Good for those students who have transitioned into chapter books or struggle with reading because of the short chapters. There are just enough b&w illustrations for those who need a visual."
CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens | 2015 | Commended
Download the Skye Above Teacher Guide.
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