Why Can't I Fly By: Rita Gelman

Book Review: Why Can’t I Fly
Author: Rita Golden Gelman
Illustrator: Jack Kent
1. Type of Book: Storybook, predicatable
2. Format: Paperback
3. Multi-Cultural: no
4. Awards: no
5. Ages: 3-6
6. Brief Synopsis: This is a story of a monkey named Minnie who can't understand why
she can't fly but other animals can. As she tries and tries she just can't seem to
figure it out. Luckily, her friends help her to fly in a unique way.
7. Interaction: There is a phrase repeated throughout the story for children to easily
repeat also.
8. Quality: Color, a gamelike challenge, listening pleasure, nonsense, suspense, humor/
wit, surprise, repitition, hope, charm, sensitivity, action, predictability
9. Debrief: 1.Which animals in the story could really fly? 2. What did Minnie try to help
her fly? 3. How was Minnie able to fly? 4. What have your friends help you to do? 5.
What have you done to help your friends?
10.Activities: 1. Graph animals that can and cannot fly. 2. Have children draw a picture
of them flying in a special way. 3. Reinact story using a sheet and a stuffed monkey.
4. Ask children to make the sounds of the different animals in the story.

-Heather A.