The story is open for interpretation because of its unusual content, however more common themes arise such as family, loss and ambition, which people may relate to. Not only are the illustrations whimsical and creative and beautiful, the story is wonderfully touching' - Myfavouritebooks. Firstly I feel the images would generate interesting discussions in the class, around the characters’ emotions and feelings and also encouraging the students to use their imaginations when looking at the images.

The unique illustrations have an almost eerie feel to them, which adds to the intrigue and questions that the story raises - for example, as I read the book I kept wondering why the father wanted to have wings, and what was driving his desire to fly away. Close inspection of the text and illustrations provides subtle links to World War One and ancient Greece, in particular the story of Icarus, as well as strong links to the DT curriculum. Illustrations create a surreal and sophisticated landscape that complements the measured cadence of the first-person narration. I bought this for my son in law whose parenting of my grandchildren I am very impressed with, I loved the story and the illustrations are memorable. I will always remember the day he left, the clothes they gave hm, khaki against the scarlet poppies' and there is a powerful illustration to accompany the powerful mental image.Will try to read this to a child - my intuition is that you could start with a child that cannot read, because the themes are real and joyous.

This stunning picture book by significant author Grahame Baker-Smith won the Kate Greenaway medal in 2011 and explores the relationship between a father a son. The pictures themselves are intricate and detailed images put together in a unique way using photographs and illustration which in themselves tell a story. He has illustrated numerous other picture books for Templar, including The Rhythm of the Rain which won the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards and the Greenaway shortlisted Leon and the Place Between . And why not try older children and use it as a source for a discussion - about families, about dreams and growing up, about loss, about poetry, about art.I found myself asking questions about the images and even making up a little more of the story in my head. Not only are the illustrations whimsical and creative and beautiful, the story is wonderfully touching', Myfavouritebooks. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. It shows many emotions throughout and if you get into the book its as if you can picture it in your mind. Much later, the boy, now a young man finds himself drawn once more to his father's drawings and failed experiments.

I think this is a great discussion piece if you want some higher level questioning in your classroom.

Graham's clever use of photographs, collage and illustration make his style completely original and unique. Themes such as war, love, death and dreams could all be discussed as a class and the book deals with each of these very sensitively which justifies the recommended reading age of 5+.

Not only are the illustrations whimsical and creative and beautiful, the story is wonderfully touching' ― Myfavouritebooks. While I enjoyed reading it myself, I have bought it to share with the children I teach in upper Key Stage 2.Yet the moving relationship between father and son has a bitter sweet legacy and one that carries through to the next generation. Cleverly symbolic, underscoring immediately the conflict between reality and fantasy - a beautiful book. A young boy, bewitched by his fathers unrelenting passion to fly; a desperate craving that absorbs his every waking minute, finds himself entranced by the dream.