  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2017 *Starred Review* It’s difficult to determine what works best in this tender, simple tale. There’s a young boy, newly arrived from Italy, who does not feel like he belongs in strange, rainy Wales; an old man, bowed and broken from spending most of his life in the mines; and a racing pigeon, King of the Sky. The boy’s first-person commentary achingly expresses his loneliness and sense of alienation, and the beautiful mixed-media illustrations, which have the smudged and dreamlike quality of watercolors, align perfectly, setting scenes that capture moods and the rainy setting, provide insights, and engage readers, from the cover to sweeping two-page spreads to the endpapers, which are filled with pigeons in a variety of forms. The pigeon’s struggles during a long-distance race are poignantly portrayed, as is the boy’s jubilation when King returns as a champion. This lovely story will resonate with any child who has felt out of place, whether a transfer student in a new school or an immigrant in a new country. This will work for group readings, but will be much more special for one-on-one sharing, where readers can absorb the language and pore over the detailed, nuanced pictures. This is a unique and very special book. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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