A girl's desire to fly a kite dovetails with her grief over losing a pet in this beautifully illustrated picture book.
When Melia, a girl with light-brown skin and curly hair, asks older children if she can fly one of their kites, they tell her to make her own. She doesn't know how, so she goes to the library to find out. There, she discovers a book about kites and uses it to make a beautiful triangular creation with a bow and long tail. At first, it won't fly, and the older children jeer. But Melia keeps trying, and she's successful and happy—because on it, she taped a letter for her deceased dog, Ginger. She hopes that Ginger will find a way to leave her a note in the stars. Married authors Samuel and Freda Narh reveal the story a bit at a time, interrupting the linear kite-making narrative with Melia's recollections of Ginger and an expression of the joy she feels when she sees the library. Their language is poetic ("this aged booklet smells like success") and balances the sometimes-challenging turns of phrase with shorter text and Suria's large pastel illustrations, which capture the tone perfectly and use details from the apparently East African setting to enhance Melia's world.
A well-told, offbeat story that blends themes of perseverance and healing. [Kirkus Reviews]
Samuel Narh is an award-winning children's book author. Maisie's Scrapbook and Elle of Portuana are two of his books. He enjoys painting pictures with words using his stories, which are meant to touch and reach people across the world.
"There is beauty in determination and ingenuity. These attributes are evident in Melia, whose friendship and connection with Ginger transcends time. A Kite for Melia delicately deals with the idea of loss and acceptance, using soft words woven with meaning that can be understood by everyone. Melia's story is a universal one that will bring joy to readers of all ages." — Chasing A Spider Publishing, Publisher
"A well-told, offbeat story that blends themes of perseverance and healing." — Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/samuel-narh/a-kite-for-melia/
"A little girl named Melia builds a kite and learns the value of persistence and acceptance." — Book Life, https://booklife.com/project/a-kite-for-melia-89640
"There are plenty of ways to teach kids about perseverance but none quite as effective as a beautifully illustrated story." — Independent Book Review, https://independentbookreview.com/2024/03/18/book-review-a-kite-for-melia/
"This is a sweet book for young readers that gently introduces new topics for further discussion." — Love Reading, https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/24280/A-Kite-for-Melia-by-Freda-Narh-Samuel-Narh.html
