Today is Kite Flying day. There are two books that can showcase the fun of kites.
First, is the second (of four) books of Mary Poppins, “Mary Poppins Comes Back” by P.L. Travers. Not only on the dust jacket, where the Banks family is tugging on a kite string, but in the middle of the first chapter, when Michael Banks is trying to bring in kis kite:
“For now, above the tallest trees…the shape at the end of the string was clearly visible. There was no sign of the green-and-yellow Kite but in its place danced a figure that seemed at once strange and familiar, a figure wearing a blue coat with silver buttons and a straw hat trimmed with daisies.” The kids shouted, “Mary Poppins, we knew you’d come back!” These Mary Poppins books are as entertaining as the movie.
My other book is “25 kites that Fly” by Leslie L. Hunt, 1964. This is a well written book on kites. The author shows in simple language how to make basic kites, and then progress to more difficult and compound kites. Twenty five kites in total. Explained are the materials, along with the tools needed. She offers great tips, some of which I thought “if only I knew that then.” There is a final chapter of where, when, and how to fly kites, along with adjusting and winding them in. This is a useful kite book.
While kites can be very “groundbreaking” in their design and use, kite-eating trees also get their share. When I turned twelve, (on Friday the Thirteenth) I took my brand new box kite (I was so thrilled) and flew it in on my street, instead of walking two blocks to the school yard. ”Good Grief!” A kite-eating tree chomped it. At least I don’t have another Friday the Thirteenth birthday until 2026-it will be my eleventh. My golden(?) Friday 13th-13 of ’em, will be in 2043. I should be 85.
Librarytomes 