We Could Fly

By Rhiannon Giddens, Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (Illustrator)

A girl feels a mysterious call to freedom, echoing her ancestors' journey.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 312 ratings

40 pages· 343 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

A young girl, urged by a sparrow, feels a mysterious call to freedom. Her mother reveals this longing is shared by their ancestors, hinting at a journey of transcendence. Will they embrace the spiritual power of tradition and rise together?

From the publisher

A Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner”This magical picture book will have readers entranced. Sublime.”–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)In a companion to Build a House, Rhiannon Giddens–winner of multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize and cofounder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops–gives wing to a moving tale of grace and transcendence, with acclaimed artist Briana Mukodiri Uchendu. At a sparrow’s urging, a young girl feels a mysterious trembling in her arms, a lightness in her feet, a longing to be free. Her mother tells her that her Granny Liza experienced the same, as did many of their people before her. Perhaps it’s time, Mama says, to slip the bonds of earth and join the journey started long ago. To hold each other tight and rise. Drawing on lyrics from the song “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, which in turn draw on a heritage of African folklore, this incantatory dialogue between a mother and daughter paired with startlingly beautiful illustrations celebrates love, resilience, and the spiritual power of the “old-time ways”–tradition and shared cultural memory–to sustain and uplift.