Blue Wings

Two brothers bound together by affection and responsibility. Jadran is five years older than Josh and huge enough to be nicknamed Giant. Josh is younger, and smaller; but his sweet and stubborn brother thinks in a way that would be more typical of a small child. They are both dealing with changes to their newly blended, Muslim family. So Josh looks after Jadran and they both adjust. When the brothers find an injured young crane, Jadran wants to bring it back to their small apartment and teach it to fly at any cost. And it turns out the cost is high. Intensely moving without ever slipping into sentimentality, The Blue Wings is a warm, love-filled story about fragility, strength, and brotherhood, in all its complications.

Jef Aerts grew up in a wooded village in Belgium. His first picture book, Bigger Than a Dream, has won multiple awards and has been published in nine languages. His most recent novel, The Blue Wings, was named a 2020 IBBY Honor book. Aerts lives with his wife and three children on a small farm. Visit him online at jefaerts.com.