by Moe Zilla

Created on: February 25, 2010

Mr. Biddle lies in his hammock, and wishes he could fly with the birds.  "How big they were, how strong, how beautiful in the air. 'I am thinking of flying with you,' Mr. Biddle shouted…" But the giant birds in the story have names - they're Crown, Adso, Badso, and Charlie And by the second illustration they're clustered around Mr. Biddle's kitchen table, studying a design he's sketched for his flying carriage.

And there's a secret history to the sketch that goes back more than 200 years. In an introduction to the book, author Lonzo Anderson explains that it was inspired by a picture in an 18th-century political satire called "A Voyage to Cacklogallinia." The picture was used in the author's earlier book, "Bag of Smoke" about the beginning of human flight. "It was such a delightful picture that it kept picking at us and finally pushed us into doing the present story… "

It's a wonderful idea for a story that could inspire children to build their own inventions - and the author finds ways to build tension. The birds smile and watch the inventor construct his device - for a while. But then they turn to chasing each other around the sky. Mr. Biddle worries the birds won't want to carry him, and the story builds a sense of anticipation. And before the birds can carry his sky-carriage, he has to fit them with pole-carrying corsets.

There's a very funny drawing of the four giant birds waiting their turn at the corset-maker's shop. Adrienne Adams had already won two Caldecott medals for her illustrations before she teamed up with Anderson for this book in 1971. "I'm not sure I like this," one bird says in the caption, "but go ahead." And Adams contributes an unlikely drawing of the kindly seamstress - in a fancy dress continues - patiently lacing the bird into his corset!

The flighty birds race off in their corsets - as poor Mr. Biddle shouts after them "We're not ready yet!" But the birds couldn't wait to hook themselves to the poles for carrying Mr. Biddle's saucer-shaped chair. They're already flying it towards the sky - but Mr. Biddle manages to jump inside! His heart was pounding, but he's flying through the sky. And then the birds begin to fight!

The story ends as his sky-carriage crashes into the forest - but it's still an inspiring story about following your dream. The birds feel bad when Mr. Biddle gives up, and learn how to cooperate to fly the carriage. And then they return to Mr. Biddle's house, and give him the flight that he wanted after all!

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