Words with Wings Hardcover – Picture Book, September 1, 2013

I am a reader for 4th grade students at our local elementary school. It's up to me to find acceptable reading material. I read this book to my class last year & it was one of their favorites! Decided to buy it this year rather than rely on the library for availability. Reading it to a new 4th grade class this year & they love it, too. It is a very good story written in poetic form - though not rhimey - and covers subjects that apply to just about every child. It has a good outcome that is realistic.

This is a realistic fiction novel written in verse about a girl named Gabriella who day dreams. In a little over 80 pages, the author captures Gabriella’s feelings and worries throughout the book, along with who does and doesn't support her through school and in her home life. This book encourages children to use their creativity and not let others hinder their self-expression. While this story's age range is from 8-11, I would recommend a teacher or family member reading alongside to explain some of the deeper meanings expressed in this book. If you enjoy poetry or reading about children learning life's lessons, this book is for you.

The book Words With Wings by Nikki Grimes, is about a girl named Gabriella and how she copes with her parents divorce by daydreaming. Through the trials of being in all new environments, she finds comfort and reinsurance in a teacher who encourages her in new ways to express her creativity. This book is good for students who struggle with either a recent divorce, or trouble staying on task in school. Due to the fact that the book is written in small poems, the reader may feel this is an easy read. Although this book was very enjoyable, we feel there could have been more depth and clarity.

I loved everything about this book, beginning with the title!Having been all three, I completely understand the little girl, the mother, and the teacher. Thankfully, at the end of this book they all understand each other a bit more.

Masterfully written, Words with Wings is an inspiring novel in verse that showcases Grime's superb skill of bringing marvelous figurative language, emotions, and thoughts about real life situations together to create a book that will touch readers' hearts right away and for sure be among the highest-rated books in the world of literature for children. A portrait of a teacher who made a difference in Gabby’s life is brilliantly weaved into this heartfelt story as a warm and assuring tribute to all teachers who do make a positive difference in their students’ lives on an everyday basis. Thank you, Ms. Grimes, for another gem among many others that come from your creative mind.

This has become one my favorite books for children. Daydreamer's are often called to task when they have drifted somewhere else, but how many people ever think about what their thinking about or what might be happening in the child's life. Love this story and how it was resolved into creative healthy positive situation. Writers and dreamers are beautiful when they haven't been squashed. Beautiful.

I found that my 8 year old daughter loved reading poetry. Words with wings came across me one day and our daughter started it last night and did not put it down. She fell in love with it! Highly recommend.

This is an excellent book for grabbing children’s attention as they see various forms of descriptive language in a story they can identify with.