Best Friends

Paper Planes by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones

​How could they be best friends if they were so far apart?

Mia and Ben are best of friends. Inseparable, the duo can frequently be found designing and flying their own paper planes.
When Ben's family moves far away, the two are worried about the fate of their friendship. The distance between the two seems insurmountable. Then a small but remarkable thing happens. One smashed air ship and and a plane lacking wings bring the two together, joining forces to solve a problem. The challenge to construct a flight-worthy aircraft unites Mia and Ben. They also work out the challenge of their geographical separation with paper. Intricately folded paper.

Helmore has based the story on the long-distance friendship between his daughter living in England and her Australian cousin. This relationship spanning thousands of miles was forged and cemented by an exchange of paper planes.

With slightly greyish hues Jones' color palette has a muted quality that captures a sense of loneliness. The wide expanse of sky emphasizes the distance separating Mia and Ben. Images of flight emerge throughout the pages: geese soaring through the air, an airplane making dizzying dives in the skies, and boats gliding across the water.

While the story is based in reality, there is a gorgeous dream sequence where the friends meet high above the clouds. The longing to stay connected permeates the children's dreams. ​Paper Planes celebrates the youthful joy of friends with a shared interest. The pain of their separation followed by the comfort of discovering and strengthening their connection brings the tale to a satisfying conclusion. ​​

Plan a Virtual Fly-off

Ben might be far away, but that didn't mean Mia had lost him forever.

​This appealing picture book acknowledges the sorrow friends experience when they are far apart. This feeling is particularly poignant in today's world. Like Ben and Mia, kids can discover ways to maintain a friendship when separated by distance. Why not plan a virtual fly-off?  ​

Peachtree Publishing Company offers online directions for making paper airplanes. This simple activity is great fun. Download the template and/or create your own paper planes. Customize the design. Decorate any way you would like.

Using your phone's camera, record the flight of your paper plane, carefully marking the start and landing points. Using a measuring tape, determine the distance flown.  Invite your friend to do the same. Compare videos, noting the span of each flight. There can be many iterations of this contest. Will the winner be declared after two-out-three races? Will modifications be allowed? Perhaps you and your friend can create planes for one another and film the results for each of these test flights. Great way to learn about aerodynamics.  Wonderful way to sustain a friendship.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 1, 2020  Publisher:  Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1682631614