Running Is a Kind of Dreaming : A Memoir

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Running Is a Kind of Dreaming : A Memoir

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Overview

A young bird finds the strength to overcome bullying

Little Raven was last to hatch in the nest and the last to learn to fly, but he was the first to be teased and ridiculed. His only wish was to fly and play with the others, so one day he took a dare and, to show his courage, Little Raven decides to fly to the moon. Beautifully produced and with artwork from an acclaimed illustrator, this picture book gently handles the issue of wanting to find acceptance.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

10/13/2014
Pfister offers a somewhat gloomy parable in the story of a “puny” raven who’s ridiculed by larger, older birds. They refuse to play with him until he flies to the moon and back, claiming, “We used to do it every day, when we were your age.” Watching the brave fledgling take off for the moon, the narrator—one of the ravens complicit in the prank, who recounts the story as a long-ago memory—admits, “I should have stopped him. I should have told him it was a bad joke. But I said nothing.” After the young raven barely survives his attempt to reach the moon, the narrator confesses that neither he nor the others ever attempted the flight. But a mysterious “silver feather shining in the little raven’s wing,” which matches the gleaming foil accents used for the moon, underscores the bird’s determination in the face of adversity. With bright yellow beaks and gangly bodies painted in inky black, Pfister’s ravens pop from the white backdrops. Though heavy-handed in its messaging, the story should still prompt conversations about bullying and forgiveness. Ages 3–5. (Nov.)

From the Publisher

"As in the author's The Rainbow Fish, Pfister's best-seller beloved by several generations of readers, the use of shiny foil adds shimmer to his story….effective…. the overall package is out to dazzle young listeners." —Karen Cruze, Booklist

"Beautifully produced and with artwork from an acclaimed illustrator, this picture book gently handles the issue of wanting to find acceptance." —childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

"Beautifully produced and with artwork from an acclaimed illustrator, this picture book gently handles the issue of wanting to find acceptance." —kidsreads.com

Children's Literature - Amy McMillan

A young raven, born smaller than all the rest, becomes the focus of everyone’s jokes and teasing. When he grows he is still small but proves to be the best flier of them all, and the older ravens relent and tell them he can play with them once he has flown up and touched the moon. They convince the small raven that they all did it when they were his age so he leaves one night, determined to make the journey. Only one raven is awake to watch him try, but falls asleep and sees in his dream the small raven reach the moon and earn silver wings. The next morning they wake to find the raven lifeless on the ground. When he regains consciousness the observing raven apologizes for their story and their teasing and asks for forgiveness. In response, the little raven rises into the sky, a silver wing feather glinting in the sunshine. Plenty of lessons can be learned from this simple tale though it is less didactic than Pfister’s divisively popular Rainbow Fish. Pfister’s highly recognizable illustrative style, complete with shiny foil details, is the highlight, as usual. While the adults may be a harder sell, young fans will be sure to enjoy this story as well. Reviewer: Amy McMillan; Ages 3 to 8.

Kirkus Reviews

2014-09-14
A tiny, weak raven is so determined to win the friendship of the other ravens that he puts himself in harm's way. Even when he develops prodigious flying skills, he cannot win acceptance. The other ravens dare him to fly to the moon, claiming they have all accomplished this feat. Although he tries with all his might and nearly reaches his goal, he falls to Earth, spent and in despair at his failure. One of the bullies who saw the flight (or perhaps dreamt it) admits the trick and begs forgiveness. As they join together to fly and play, they notice that the little raven has one mysterious, shining silver feather as a souvenir of his brave attempt. The regretful bully, now much older and wiser, tells the tale long after the events have been almost forgotten by the other ravens. This perspective allows readers to reflect on the effect bullying can have on both the perpetrator and the victim, albeit in an earnest, best-case scenario in which there is no lasting damage and great moral lessons are learned. Except for the mystical moon flight, Pfister's effective, compelling illustrations depict the ravens flying or perched on branches against stark white backgrounds, while the moon, the raven's wings and one feather shine in raised silver metallic foil. An important idea handled gently and tenderly if a little simplistically. (Picture book. 4-8)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173102973
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/05/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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Editorial Reviews

10/13/2014
Pfister offers a somewhat gloomy parable in the story of a “puny” raven who’s ridiculed by larger, older birds. They refuse to play with him until he flies to the moon and back, claiming, “We used to do it every day, when we were your age.” Watching the brave fledgling take off for the moon, the narrator—one of the ravens complicit in the prank, who recounts the story as a long-ago memory—admits, “I should have stopped him. I should have told him it was a bad joke. But I said nothing.” After the young raven barely survives his attempt to reach the moon, the narrator confesses that neither he nor the others ever attempted the flight. But a mysterious “silver feather shining in the little raven’s wing,” which matches the gleaming foil accents used for the moon, underscores the bird’s determination in the face of adversity. With bright yellow beaks and gangly bodies painted in inky black, Pfister’s ravens pop from the white backdrops. Though heavy-handed in its messaging, the story should still prompt conversations about bullying and forgiveness. Ages 3–5. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"As in the author's The Rainbow Fish, Pfister's best-seller beloved by several generations of readers, the use of shiny foil adds shimmer to his story….effective…. the overall package is out to dazzle young listeners." —Karen Cruze, Booklist
"Beautifully produced and with artwork from an acclaimed illustrator, this picture book gently handles the issue of wanting to find acceptance." —childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com
"Beautifully produced and with artwork from an acclaimed illustrator, this picture book gently handles the issue of wanting to find acceptance." —kidsreads.com

From the Publisher

A young raven, born smaller than all the rest, becomes the focus of everyone’s jokes and teasing. When he grows he is still small but proves to be the best flier of them all, and the older ravens relent and tell them he can play with them once he has flown up and touched the moon. They convince the small raven that they all did it when they were his age so he leaves one night, determined to make the journey. Only one raven is awake to watch him try, but falls asleep and sees in his dream the small raven reach the moon and earn silver wings. The next morning they wake to find the raven lifeless on the ground. When he regains consciousness the observing raven apologizes for their story and their teasing and asks for forgiveness. In response, the little raven rises into the sky, a silver wing feather glinting in the sunshine. Plenty of lessons can be learned from this simple tale though it is less didactic than Pfister’s divisively popular Rainbow Fish. Pfister’s highly recognizable illustrative style, complete with shiny foil details, is the highlight, as usual. While the adults may be a harder sell, young fans will be sure to enjoy this story as well. Reviewer: Amy McMillan; Ages 3 to 8.

Children's Literature - Amy McMillan

2014-09-14
A tiny, weak raven is so determined to win the friendship of the other ravens that he puts himself in harm's way. Even when he develops prodigious flying skills, he cannot win acceptance. The other ravens dare him to fly to the moon, claiming they have all accomplished this feat. Although he tries with all his might and nearly reaches his goal, he falls to Earth, spent and in despair at his failure. One of the bullies who saw the flight (or perhaps dreamt it) admits the trick and begs forgiveness. As they join together to fly and play, they notice that the little raven has one mysterious, shining silver feather as a souvenir of his brave attempt. The regretful bully, now much older and wiser, tells the tale long after the events have been almost forgotten by the other ravens. This perspective allows readers to reflect on the effect bullying can have on both the perpetrator and the victim, albeit in an earnest, best-case scenario in which there is no lasting damage and great moral lessons are learned. Except for the mystical moon flight, Pfister's effective, compelling illustrations depict the ravens flying or perched on branches against stark white backgrounds, while the moon, the raven's wings and one feather shine in raised silver metallic foil. An important idea handled gently and tenderly if a little simplistically. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

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Overview

Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Related Subjects

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