Everyone stares at the new boy who has just moved onto the block. Ikarus Jackson seems plenty different, that’s for certain. He flies above the rooftops, “swooping and diving, looping past people’s windows.” At school, everyone notices him, too. They joke about his “long, strong, proud wings,” his unusual hair, and his shoes. One classmate seems to understand him. Cruel kids have whispered about her, too, making her feel lonely, even strange. Watching what is happening to Ikarus, she summons the courage to break her own silence. The spare, poetic words of this observant, sympathetic narrator build suspense. Myers’s exciting cut‑paper collage art brings wonder to his fully original, dynamic, beautifully designed story, which is loosely based on the Greek myth about Icarus. “Wings” was primarily inspired by the youthful experiences of the writer/artist, who says he was tall for his age. He stood out among his peers for that reason, and also because he preferred to draw rather than do what tall boys are supposed to enjoy. His captivating picture book set in today’s urban landscape is peopled with kids whose responses to Ikarus may raise the question of how anyone handles meeting a person who seems different. Honor Book, 2001 Charlotte Zolotow Award; Honor Book, CCBC 2001 Caldecott Award Discussion ; Honor Book CCBC 2001 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Discussion (Ages 5‑11)

An extraordinary look at the wild butterflies of North America, with hundreds of compelling original photographs

See what it’s like to stare a butterfly in the eyes. Lavishly illustrated and scientifically rigorous, this dazzling volume provides a comprehensive visual guide to the butterflies of North America. David Lee Myers’s stunning photography captures these amazing insects in their natural habitats, offering a firsthand look at how butterflies appear in the wild. Featuring more than a hundred species of butterflies, the book highlights the importance of studying these insects as indicator species and discusses not only the taxonomy and biology of butterflies but also the importance of conserving butterfly habitats.  
 
A valuable resource for both professional lepidopterists and amateur naturalists, this engaging window into the world of North American butterflies teaches us what we can learn about these beautiful and inspiring creatures, and the incredible things that we can learn from them.