Earnest Sandpiper’s Great Ascent

Spirited text and whimsical, sea-bright illustrations encourage wary fledglings to achieve the impossible, all in their own good time.

“Breathe . . . try . . . jump . . . FLY!”

With trademark energy and warmth, acclaimed creator Timothy Basil Ering delivers another picture book hero for young children to root for and relate to. The time has come for three young sandpipers to soar, but Earnest seems tied to the ground. He has wings and tail feathers just like his brother and sister; what makes him so afraid? Magic will happen, Mom promises, when he’s ready. But no matter how much she and Dad coach him or his siblings cheer him on, Earnest’s efforts only lead him into danger. Perhaps, with his family’s support and a little trust in himself, they’ll lead him out again.This reassuring story is about bolstering self-esteem and doing things at one’s own pace; would that everyone were surrounded by the encouraging support and love Earnest enjoys. The colorful charcoal, ink, and acrylic illustrations are cheerful and expressive. . . . The empowering message here: It’s OK to take your own sweet time, so just believe in yourself.
—Kirkus Reviews

In this heartfelt story about overcoming fear, two young sandpipers, coached by their parents (“BREATHE... TRY... JUMP... FLY!”), take off, legs trailing, into a rose-tinted sky. . . . Naturalistic paintings by Ering (Walrus Song) portray Earnest’s anxious expression as he wrestles with the shiny, artificial object, so different from sand and sky. The stray balloon, an afterword explains, poses dangers to wildlife, giving this story a double theme of belief in oneself and care for the environment.
—Publishers WeeklyTimothy Basil Ering is the illustrator of the Newbery Medal winner The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo as well as Walrus Song by Janet Lawler, Finn Throws a Fit! by David Elliott, and Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson. He is also the author-illustrator of The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone, Necks Out for Adventure!, The Almost Fearless Hamilton Squidlegger, and The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling. Timothy Basil Ering lives in Kingston, Massachusetts.