Red Kite, Blue Sky, the debut poetry collection from Madeleine May Kunin, celebrates life and the natural world, occasioned by the birth of grand-children, the memories of friendship and past birthdays/Bar Mitzvahs, a gift of plum-colored gloves from the poet's daughter, the Sicilian sun which "melts my argument against myself," with sharp observations and humor. Like Emily Dickinson before her, Kunin does not shy away from death; rather she embraces the anticipation "before death drags me deep," the gap in her life when her beloved husband dies, the fear of immigration to America during World War II with "an H for Hebrew, I found out later," and the sadness of being isolated as an older woman living alone during the pandemic. For years Kunin was caught in the tempo of politics -- as governor, as a federal official, and as an ambassador -- but as she eased into retirement from public life, she found a door that opened for her to explore the multi-layered language of poetry.

Here is a beautiful, poetic picture book about discovering one of the most beautiful treasures of all -- friendship. Daisy sees a yellow kite flying in the sky and is immediately taken with it. It leads her to a young boy, William, who lives on the other side of the hill. William shares the kite with Daisy and shows her how to fly it. But before she knows it, Daisy is running away, back to her home -- with William's kite. Daisy's elation over the kite turns to guilt, a feeling that keeps her awake all night. Having the treasured kite doesn't seem as important anymore. Will Daisy be able to right her wrongs? 32 pages. Full-color illustrations throughout. Hardcover picture book with dust jacket. 8-1/2 by 11-1/4 inches high. Author Janet A. Holmes was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia. After completing an Arts Degree at the University of Western Australia, Janet worked as a research assistant. Following a Graduate Diploma in Education, she worked as a teacher-librarian in a primary school. She then moved to Canberra, Australia, where she currently resides and writes. As a little boy, illustrator Jonathan Bentley liked soccer and drawing. When he was about eight years old he realized that he might not be good enough to play soccer professionally and so he concentrated on drawing instead. He likes to work with a range of materials including acrylics, oils, and line and watercolor. Jonathan looks forward to the day when he has a big barn-like studio somewhere in the countryside.

On a beautiful summer day, a young girl goes to the beach to fly her bright red kite. As the kite soars across the great blue sky, he decides he wants to see the world and embarks on a journey that takes him far and wide. But will the kite ever see the little girl again?

Jill and Dad have gone to the park to fly their kites. The kites fly high in the sky until suddenly they begin to fall down. Read to find out what happens when the kites come down.

Brodie is a teenager struggling to cope after the death of his twin brother and separation of his parents. Living in fear of Sumo, the school bully, Brodie finds some relief in his hobby of Birdwatching until Sumo turns up in his favourite place. There seems to be no escape for Brodie as his life starts to spiral out of control, leading to life changing effects for everyone.

Almost a year after the death of his wife, former high-tech executive Ian finds a letter that will change his life. It contains Kate's final wish-a plea for him to take their ten-year-old daughter, Mattie, on a trip across Asia, through the countries they had always planned to visit. Eager to honor the woman they loved, Ian and Mattie embark on an epic journey, leaving notes to Kate in "wishing trees" along the way, and encountering miracles large and small. And as they begin to find their way back to each other, they discover that healing is possible and love endures-lessons that Kate hoped to show them all along...

When Tai Shan and his father, Baba, fly kites from their roof and look down at the crowded city streets below, they feel free, like the kites. Baba loves telling Tai Shan stories while the kites--one red, and one blue--rise, dip, and soar together. Then, a bad time comes. People wearing red armbands shut down the schools, smash store signs, and search houses. Baba is sent away, and Tai Shan goes to live with Granny Wang. Though father and son are far apart, they have a secret way of staying close. Every day they greet each other by flying their kites???one red, and one blue???until Baba can be free again, like the kites. Inspired by the dark time of the Cultural Revolution in China, this is a soaring tale of hope that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to love from a distance.

Hanging onto the tree, Lawrence looked down in awe. Who would have believed that the quiet little Umhlatuzana could change from a small stream to this? When thirteen-year-old Lawrence is caught up in the tumult of the flood that struck Natal after freak torrential rains on Saturday 26 September 1987, his life is turned upside down. Everything that he has taken for granted changes overnight and he finds himself alone, trying to understand the forces that have swept him along. Sheer tenacity and the need to soar again like a kite, help him contend with the complexities of fending for himself, of understanding his radically altered younger brother and the almost recognisable mother who is lying in the hospital. Here we have the innermost thoughts of a boy caught up in a tangle of events, an experience showing someone struggling towards his own identity in a chaotic world. Gold Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature, 1990.