"Ready to Soar" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider

In toddlerdom, there are “try and try again” moments as little ones learn to walk, to talk and face other growing up challenges. The tyke in “Ready to Soar,” by Cori Doerrfeld, feels challenged and comes to understand that persistence is the key to launching his handmade paper airplane into the sky.

The boy has pride in his handiwork, a small paper airplane he’s embossed with his name “Riley.” He’s worked hard on this project, reading “Flying 101” to get the scoop on how to make it fly.

With a “3…2…1…”, the big moment arrives and Riley dashes forward, his prize held loftily in his outstretched hand. Alas, a shadow appears—caused from an eagle in flight headed straight for the boy, a harsh look on the bird’s face.

“STOP!”…That will never get off the ground!” The eagle shouts. “…I rule the sky because I’m large and in charge. Trust me, it needs to be bigger.”

With that order, Riley goes back to the drawing board, increasing the size of the plane. Then he attempts another launch. With a “3…2…1…” but another shadow appears—a parrot in flight looking quite self-assured.

“OH NO! the parrot squawked. That won’t go very far!”

When Riley asks why, the cocky bird touts, “Only the best and brightest can rise above the rest. Don’t you see it needs to be fancier!”

Fortunately, Riley has some crayons at the ready and decorates his paper airplane in shades of the rainbow. With a hopeful face, it’s “3…2….1”, but you guessed it, another bird appears, then another, and another, so on, and so forth, until Riley realizes this pattern of flighty advice just can’t continue. He needs “to start fresh and to find the courage to try one more time.”

A change of locale is needed, and Riley has success at the North Pole, getting support from a perky penguin that pops up there, its shadow one of encouragement, not criticism.

There’s a lesson to be learned from the little boy in “Ready to Soar,” one for the toddler set that’s also pertinent for graduates who might need a reminder to persevere as they forge their own pathway into the future.

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