Paper Planes

Mia and Ben are the very best of friends and have grown up doing everything together, but their particular favourite thing to do is making paper planes. Their whole year revolves around them folding paper to create their planes, each one designed with the ultimate goal of one day drifting across the great lake they live near. Life is great until the best friends hear some news that rocks their worlds forever - Ben has to leave. Promises are made and goodbyes are shared as Ben makes his way to the big city, leaving his best friend feeling alone and miserable. Once again, Jim Helmore has created a text that many children and grown ups will be able to relate to. The feelings endured as you have to say goodbye to someone so special can be all-consuming but Jim, with the support of the fantastic illustrations of Richard Jones, has created a text that allows children to understand it is fine to feel as they do. To go through a range of emotions - from sadness to anger - is portrayed as perfectly normal and although the person is no longer near by, their memories will never leave. This is a lovely resource for primary schools to use in circle times and to help support children new to a setting or those who have seen a friend leave. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Kyle Matravers, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+