#519 - The Paper Plane Flew

by Bharti Singh and illustrated by Sheena Deviah

“The Paper Plane Flew” by Bharti Singh and illustrated by Sheena Deviah. Published by Duckbill. An endearing story of the incredible journey of a humble paper plane that never fails to bring joy wherever it flies.

The book starts off with little Mithi learning something new with her father. They make a paper plane and launch it off from their balcony in Mumbai. They feel so happy to see it fly far away in the sky. Where does it go next? Of course to a classroom where a boy is happily daydreaming near the window. He doesn’t miss picking it up and sending it flying off towards the blackboard obviously :) What next you might wonder holding your breath?!

The paper plane is promptly picked up by the teacher with a frown on her face. This lasts only for a brief while. After the class, she picks it up with a nostalgic smile and sends it off flying again. This time it goes towards the sea. Well it is on a longer journey this time and is going to see quite a few places and have new experiences. Which places will it fly to? Who will it get to see or meet? What happens to it eventually? Will Mithi ever get to know what happens to the plane that she made? Can they ever meet again? Read the delightful story to trace an amazing journey of the charming paper plane.

The book was a source of joy and delight as I read it along twice with children. The first time was with my 3 year old niece and 6 year old nephew who were keen to know what happens to the paper plane and kept grinning as we read. They were happy to see it bringing joy to people who noticed it as it landed near them. My 9.5 year old was delighted to see it fly through quite a few places that he had been to and figured out more nuances from the story compared to his cousins. He wondered if the paper plane had finally made its way back in a true sense. I do not want to reveal the plot but the ending is heartwarming and definitely going to bring more joy to anyone who figures the connection. Even otherwise the story is so endearing that the children I read it with turned the pages eagerly in anticipation of what was coming up next. After all, the joy of playing with a paper plane is so timeless and ageless :) The accompanying illustrations are fabulous and make the story come alive. They have so many details that are bound to make one appreciate the lovely regional and authentic touch that they add to the plot.

The book is part of the “hook book” series by Duckbill and well suited for children who are beginning to read on their own. The fairly large sized text along with pictures are very helpful in making the gradual transition to chapter books with lesser pictures.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 5 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the author, Bharti Singh, for review. Thank you for sending across the book Bharti!