Paper Planes

Paper Planes
Written by Jim Helmore
Illustrated by Richard Jones

Mia and Ben are the very best of friends and love making paper planes together. They dream of making a plane that can soar all the way across the lake, as high and fast as the geese above. But their dreams are crushed when Ben moves far away, and Mia is left feeling hurt and alone. As the seasons come and go, she’s reminded of all the things she misses about Ben. With a little bit of hope, however, and a great big imagination, Mia learns their friendship isn’t over. Just as an airplane can cross vast distances, their paper planes can connect them no matter how far apart they may be.

From the author and illustrator team who brought you The Snow Lion, comes a gentle new story of staying in touch and facing the emotions and struggles of a long-distance friendship. Jim Helmore’s simple, heartfelt prose and Richard Jones’ calming, nostalgic illustrations help young readers identify and deal with difficult feelings. Paper Planes is a celebration of compassion and friendship and a source of hope for any child who has experienced the uncertainty of a big move.

Make a paper plane with friends with this how-to guide!

“Helmore’s spare, expressive text gives the children’s close friendship the respect it deserves in this heartfelt story of love, separation, and reconnection… A quiet, comforting picture book that will resonate with its audience.” —Booklist

“Parents and educators will especially appreciate how the protagonists’ feelings are depicted in a realistic and convincing manner—and the validation that sadness and anger are OK. The book’s inspiring ending makes it a good resource for children experiencing separation issues….A beautiful and sensitive treatment of a common childhood experience.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Expansive and warm with emotion, Jones’s illustrations lend dreamy poignancy to Helmore’s straightforward prose. A familiar childhood challenge surmounted with well-pitched emotional resonance from the creators of The Snow Lion.” —Publishers Weekly

“Pair this story with Libby Gleeson’s Half a World Away for group sharing about ways to deal with separation and other disappointments.” —School Library Journal

Soar to new heights with Mia and Ben in Paper Planes, available now at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be on the lookout for the rest of our brand-new Spring 2020 titles as well as our picture books and middle grade titles back at Peachtree this season in paperback!