Climb aboard a helicopter with National Geographic photographer Robert Haas and journey all over the world in search of wild animals and exotic places. Cruise over the savanna grasslands of Africa and watch from above as lions hunt buffalos, one of the few "fair fights" in the African wilderness. Enjoy the spectacle as brilliant pink flamingos run faster and faster along the surface of the water before taking off and landing to form the perfect shape of a huge flamingo. Track muddy footprints across a rain-drenched salt pan to find a lone wildebeest that joins a herd of zebras. Even catch a glimpse of a large group of sharks that glide silently through shallow water in search of their next meal.
I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird takes readers across the globe, from the marshlands of Botswana to the frigid waters of Greenland to the jungles of Brazil. Haas's stunning color photographs bring to life the awesome beauty and pulsating action of nature's wildest creatures and the thrill of capturing the perfect image from the air. The author's dream of flying like a bird provides the perfect vantage point for witnessing unusual drama and adventures from a bird's eye view. This book is a gorgeous, thrilling experience for adventurers of all ages.
Robert B. Haas does it again with his beautiful photography and personal story. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. It absolutely points out the fact that with hard work and a good heart one can achieve their dreams. This book is also a gentle reminder that sometimes one must rise above in order to see the whole picture.
I was also surprised and pleased to find the author donates the proceeds. Thank you National Geographic for making this book available to those of us who dream of flying!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
I DREAMED OF FLYING LIKE A BIRD (2010) is an interesting blend of aspects of literacy, adventure, nature, and reality. I DREAMED OF FLYING LIKE A BIRD reminds me of my first visit to the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where I watched To Fly! (1976) for the first time many years ago. I recall the element of dreaming and to fly at the conclusion of this movie. For those who have watched the premier film/movie, To Fly! (1976) , this new publication, I DREAMED OF FLYING LIKE A BIRD is a welcome read for stimulating and enriching the imagination. At the Smithsonian, the sophisticated theater with its excellent acoustics makes watching To Fly! quite a memorable experience. You sometimes have the feeling that you are flying along with those flying on the giant screen. But in I DREAMED OF FLYING LIKE A BIRD (2010), Robert B. Haas stimulates readers' imagination with his own experience and adventures ensconced in true pictures holding readers' interest from the beginning through the end. According to him in his introduction : "Taking photos from a low-flying aircraft is a thrilling and challenging way to capture unusual images of wildlife and the places where wild animals live…I have faced many dangers in my aerial work…When I am up there shooting away, I know that I have placed my life in the hands of my pilot." His beginning – THE LANGUAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHY and conclusion are food for thought: THE LANGUAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHY : Very often, we photographers use the language of hunting to describe what we do, "Capturing" or "shooting" means taking a picture. A "shot" means a photo, and a "target" means the animal or other subject we are trying to photograph. But we don't use any type of weapons in our work, and we don't harm the animals in any way. ( P.6) Conclusion: I realize I am a lot like that white –tailed eagle. We both glide above the Earth searching for something to capture. The eagle hopes to find the prey that allows it to feed itself and perhaps bring back a meal to share with its young. And I hope to capture from the air exactly what I am looking for—a group of special images to bring back and share with my readers. (p.58)
On all counts, Haas in I DREAMED OF FLYING LIKE A BIRD successfully captures from the air exactly what he is looking for—a group of special images to bring back and share with his readers. His adventures photographing wild animals from a helicopter begins in Africa-- flying over the huge Okavanga Delta of Botswana –where the author was able to shoot an incredible hunt that he dubs "Buffalos and Lions at War." His photo-taking takes him beyond Africa to other parts of the world to find whales, sharks, crocodiles, flamingos, and other wild creatures around the world. A large flock of flamingos can change its shape every few seconds. How can hundreds of flamingos form a true solid shape of a flamingo? A truly spectacular rarity. Please see this picture on p. 20. Besides this picture, it is intriguing to know that the most amazing thing about flamingos is hard to see without studying aerial photographs. According to Haas, " a flamingo's take off is just like an airplane's, but while airplanes take off from runways, flamingos perform a natural miracle. They run faster and faster right across the surface of the water before lifting into the sky!" (see picture on p.20). Is the "run faster and faster" not like the airplane gaining speed before the actual take off to the sky? This is a dramatic and powerful presentation of the world and its animals and birds and their activities by National Geographic photographer, Robert B. Haas, in real life pictures absolutely undoctored. The notes, "Mortal Enemies" (p. 13), "Why are flamingos pink?" (p.18). "Banding Together" (p.25), and "Tough Guys" ( p.33) illuminate various aspects of animal instincts, and attempt to destroy age old myths. Lions and buffalos learn at a very early age to fear and respect each other. Like humans, animals band together for protection and other various reasons. Flamingos are pink because of pink ,red, and orange pigments in their food. The pigments that give the flamingo its pink color can be found in two of its favorite foods, algae and small shrimp. Movies often use the fierce appearance of sharks to scare the audience But in reality, most sharks would never hurt a person. The side notes on some pages, the text and the pictures are well integrated for use in classrooms in elementary, secondary, and college classrooms . I DREAMED OF FLYING LIKE A BIRD is an excellent book for use in studying nature, sophisticated picture books, aspects of literature for children and aspects of literature for adults as well. ----- I am a member of Children's Africana Book Award (CABA) Committee 2011. It was sent to me to review for Children's Africana Book Award (CABA).
Osayimwense Osa, M.A. Ed.D Professor of English, and Editor, JACYL - Journal of African Children's & Youth Literature
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend