Fly Away Home (1991) sketches young Andrew's life living homeless in an airport. He and his dad can divide their time between many airline gates because Eve Bunting wrote this story in 1991. Now, with heightened security, living in any public building may not be possible. Because the first rule of survival is to avoid notice, Andrew and his dad employ a variety of strategies to blend in with the crowds. A small brown bird trapped in the airport is a metaphor; Andrew is stuck inside the airport and can't get out to lead a normal life. Everything in the airport is on the move except for Andrew and his dad—they stay. Bunting wrote about the tragedy of homelessness 30 years ago in a way that's direct yet appropriate for children. With kindness, Ronald Himler portrayed the this desperate yet invisible humanity amidst the more privileged travelers. I recommend this book be read with kindness, compassion, and sensitivity to listeners' responses.
Learn Lead and Love has Fly Away Home Craftivities and Graphic Organizers and Symbols of the Bird. Teachy Keen has Overcoming Obstacles Through Hope.
My lesson for this book is here.
