Anyone who has thought about trying something new—and who hasn’t?—will find plenty to empathize with in If I Never Forever Endeavor, a beautifully illustrated picture book by Holly Meade. Children, especially, often have little or no choice when it comes to trying new things—the first day of school, first time without training wheels, first swim lesson, and the list goes on. They’ll sympathize with the protagonist, a little yellow bird, who sits in his nest and wonders: “If in all of forever,/ I never endeavor/ to fly, I won’t know if I can.” He imagines the worst (“I could try/ and find/ that I flap/ and I flail”) and best outcomes (“I could try/ and take flight,/ rise high and/ float free,”). He begins to have second thoughts about leaving his cozy nest, but then realizes he would miss out on so much if he never tried: “I won’t know how it feels to/ scallop the air/ with a dip/ and a glide.”
My favorite illustrations—though they’re all gorgeous—are the ones in which the little bird attempts to take flight. At first, he plunges downward and bumps into a tree with a “thwack” and a “thud.” But then, with a “flutter” and “flap, flap,” he takes wing. Our feathered friend swoops between block-print pine trees, trailing airy blue brushstrokes that gloriously provide a sense of motion. As he lands on a branch next to another bird, he marvels at how much he’s gained from his decision to take the plunge: a wide-open sky, a world to explore, and possibly a new friend.
How often do you encounter a picture book that urges children to try new things with words like “endeavor?” That shows you how special this book is. Whether you’re using it to spark thoughtful discussions in a classroom setting or sharing this with a child who needs a nudge in new situations, If I Never Forever Endeavor is a fantastic find. Beautifully presented, the illustrations and poetic text speak volumes about a universal quandry. As Meade puts it: “The fledging perched on the edge of his nest preparing for possible flight is a situation I can feel in the pit of my stomach: possible glory, possible failure. We all find ourselves there, and we make a decision.” I, for one, am glad Meade endeavored to let her imagination soar!
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Can you suggest other books that help children overcome their fears and try new things?
