My Dad's a Birdman

You will remember that in David Almond’s Skellig, there was a man with wings who lived in the garage and ate insects: perhaps a tramp, perhaps an angel. In this story for younger readers, Dad believes he is a bird. He has made himself some wings, he cheeps a lot; he’s eating worms; and he’s entered the Great Human Bird competition, which requires him, for a prize of a thousand pounds, to fly across the River Tyne. Daughter Lizzie, who acts as her distracted Dad’s parent (the opening scene has her cajoling him into getting up and then supervising his breakfast) is not sure at first whether she should encourage his obsession. But, reacting against the advice of sensible Auntie Doreen, and out of love for her Dad, she joins him in his quest, improving the design of his wings and helping him make a nest in the kitchen. Finally, they take the flight across the Tyne together. Once again, Almond brilliantly walks the line between the wished-for and the real, grounding the search for wonder and beauty in familial love and the cadences of the Northeast of England, and mixing affectionate comedy with an affirmation of the transforming power of the individual imagination. A strange, funny and delightful book whose mood and characters – preoccupied Dad, concerned and loving Lizzie, and increasingly exasperated Auntie Doreen – are perfectly captured by Polly Dunbar’s illustrations. Do they make it across the Tyne? Read it and find out.