Ride the Wind
A heartfelt story from the author of King of the Sky, The Day War Came and The Promise, with an important point to make about male mental health.
Javier has a secret. On one of his father's fishing trips, he finds an albatross caught on the hooks - alive, if only barely. Against his father's orders, Javier smuggles the bird to safety and begins nursing it back to health. Every day the albatross accepts a little more food, but she shows no sign of wanting to use her wings. And if Javier's new friend refuses to fly, how will she ever find her way home? With words by award-winning author Nicola Davies and dramatic watercolours by Salvatore Rubbino, this is a beautiful story about the power of empathy.
"Nicola Davies is one of the best children's writers in the business." Huffington Post
Review:
A beautiful tale with illustrations to match.
There is much to talk about here with school-age readers and Rubbino captures the joy of the bird, the pain of loss and the harshness of the fishing life with his extraordinary pen. Squawks of approval.
Ride the Wind by Nicola Davies is the story of a young boy, his father, how each is trapped in his own grief, how they connect through a beautiful bird. A wild tale with the salt sway of the sea in its bones. She's queen of the picture book text. Not a word wasted. * Jackie Morris *
In this beautifully told and emotive picturebook, a motherless boy breaks rules for the sake of an injured albatross and is reconciled with his harsh father. Salvatore Rubbino's clear, colourful draughtsmanship is deft at evoking the story's South American setting. * The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Ireland *
This is a picture book written by author and zoologist Nicola Davies, with dramatic and sympathetic watercolour illustrations. * The School Librarian *
A very emotive book that can spark lots of conversations. * The Green Parent *