The Dog Who Wanted to Fly

The Dog Who Wanted To Fly is such an empowering story for young children to read because it encourages them to follow their dreams even if the world or people around them are constantly telling them they can't do something. Zora, the dog in the story, was told by a friend that she couldn't fly simply because she is a dog. She saw squirrels, planes, and kites flying and continued to try to fly herself throughout the story. There were times of discouragement, including one particular time that caused her to give up completely and retreat to her doghouse in disappointment.

Stinson does an excellent job utilizing this story as a tool to teach children that everyone, even dogs, get discouraged when they are made to feel like they can't do something. I think many children, including myself as an adult, can relate to, and sympathize with, the main character. We all encounter many people throughout our lives who will draw attention to our limitations. Near the end of the story, Stinson highlights that outside opinions aren't what truly matter. Instead, by placing Zora in the center of a crisis, Stinson reminds young readers that they must believe in themselves and never stop trying to reach their goals. Tully, the cat, was hanging from a tree and in danger, and Zora was the only character around that could save him. She soared through the air, bringing Tully to safety; meanwhile, the squirrel who could fly was watching from a nearby fence. Zora, to some extent, flew, and the squirrel was left to silently stare at her. This critical moment where Zora is seen finally accomplishing her goal of flying came just after a moment where she is seen feeling upset and, ultimately, giving up. Zora’s action further encourages children to believe in themselves. Like Zora, they can accomplish anything they put their mind to. Zora knew she had to spring into action because otherwise Tully would get hurt, and so Zora adjusted her negative mindset and believed in herself. She flew.

Something significant to acknowledge is the fact that, even though both the cat and the squirrel witnessed Zora's heroic action where she actually flew, she didn't receive much praise from either of them; however, Zora still felt accomplished. This also teaches young readers to not place too much weight on other people's perceptions of you. Stinson's ending and Brandon James Scott's illustrations portray Zora as being proud of herself, regardless of the lack of praise from her friends. She knew in her heart that she wanted to fly and that she actually accomplished her goal. Maybe it wasn't perfect. Maybe it wasn't actually flying, like a plane or a kite, but it was her version of flying. She did it. And she was proud of herself. This ending leaves readers feeling inspired to go forward in this world, setting goals and, most importantly, believing in themselves.

Lastly, Stinson highlights that there may be many different versions of and ways to reach certain goals. For example, a plane soars high through the sky, a squirrel jumps from tree to tree, and the kids on the teeter-totter go up and down; these are all forms of flying. Everyone’s doing things differently is what makes our world and us so unique. Zora just needed to find her way to fly. Not surprisingly, it ended up being a different way than the squirrel, the plane, the children, and the kite each flew. It was a different form of flying, but, in the end, it was still flying.

The storyline that Stinson has created addresses the hardships young children may experience in life when trying to reach or accomplish their goals. It acknowledges that feeling discouraged, sad, or as if you have failed is normal. On the other hand, she also encourages young children to never give up on their dreams while still preparing them for people who may try to hold them back from accomplishing their goals. She emphasizes the importance of having a positive perception of yourself and your abilities. She encourages children to see past the opinions of people around them and to just focus on believing in themselves. I will definitely read The Dog Who Wanted To Fly to my primary class and my future children. These reminders are important, and children deserve to have the encouragement to not be afraid to reach their goals.