The Tiny Kite of Eddie Wing by Maxine Trottier illustrated by Al van Mil

Tuesday Treasure

Eddie loves kites. During the day he works with his parents on their flower stall but his dream is to own and fly a wonderful kite. Unfortunately Eddie's family are very poor. All Eddie can do is fly an imaginary kite up on top of the hill:

"There he would run through the grass holding an imaginary string in one hand. With the other hand he would pull the invisible cord and urge a kite that one he could see up into the cold, blue sky."

Every year his town holds a festival of kites. Old Chan sets the challenge - the fastest kite, the kite with the longest tail. This year the challenge is to make the smallest kite. everyone gets busy buying kite making materials but Eddie cannot afford the paper, silk or cord needed to make the perfect kite. On the day of the competition all Eddie can do is fly his imaginary kite and so he does not win the prize. Old Chan is a wise man, though, and he has been watching Eddie. He takes Eddie into his store and gives the small boy a parcel. Now Eddie can make the kite of his dreams and this time everyone will be able to see it.

The tiny kite of Eddie Wing was the winner of the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year award in 1996. You can see some art by Al van Mil here. Sadly this book is out of print.

I would pair this book with other books about kites and kite flying beginning with another treasure book - The Sea Breeze Hotel illustrated by Patricia Mullins.