Elbert in the Air
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A heartwarming story about unconditional love and rising above those who stand in the way of being who you are.
Shortly after he is born, Elbert floats up into the air. Before long, his mother must stand on her tip toes to reach him and toss toys into the air at playtime. While everyone in town, from the school nurse to the mayor, is full of advice for keeping her boy down, Elbert’s mother knows her son is meant to float. And so, she lets him.
But as life becomes more and more difficult for a floating boy, and people understand him less and less, Elbert has to make a decision: Stay bound to the ground or float higher in the hopes of finding the world—and community—he’s always wished for.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When infant Elbert floats into the air soon after his birth, his mother stands on tiptoe to feed him. In response to a neighbor's suggested alternative ("Net him like a butterfly"), she says simply, "If Elbert was born to float, I will let him." Myriad logistical quandaries follow the child's maturation. When it looks as if he'll have to celebrate his birthday alone ("No one else is up here"), his mother climbs a ladder with a birthday cake. And she remains undaunted as school administrators and community officials complain about her son's buoyancy, even mounting a fire escape to champion him. "Just be yourself," she says, "and you'll find friends." Eventually, when he does, he returns the faithful love she's shown him. Digital artwork from Pumphrey (Somewhere in the Bayou) portrays the duo with brown skin and a retro look, while a limited palette combines with blocky forms to highlight sign-like shapes, such as the crane Elbert's mother scrambles up to hand him an encouraging gift. Imbuing a fairy tale setup with plausible real-world results, Wesolowska (Leo + Lea) writes a warming story of loving someone just the way they are. Ages 4–8. Author's agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Hannah Mann, Writers House.
