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 who has written several picture books. He enjoys using words to paint pictures that resonate with readers all over the world.
Freda Narh was born and raised in Mississippi, and she is a graduate of Ole Miss. She loves being a mom to Merrit. She is also known as the Baby Whisperer, because of her love and magical ways with babies.
Valeria Suria was born in a small town by Turin in Italy. She is a full-time illustrator and has the soul of a painter. A Kite for Melia is a second picture book.
"A well-told, offbeat story that blends themes of perseverance and healing." - Kirkus Reviews
"A little girl named Melia builds a kite and learns the value of persistence and acceptance." - Book Life
"There are plenty of ways to teach kids about perseverance but none quite as effective as a beautifully illustrated story." - Independent Book Review
