Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Eloquent, fanciful text and illustrations that sparkle with clarity combine to perfectly portray a solitary boy's flight of imagination. Alone in the schoolyard, the young protagonist sits apart from the others, but he is quite present. "I am here," he says. Happy to examine the details of the world around him, he is fine—until a piece of paper falls right into his lap, ready to be transformed. He folds the paper into an airplane, which then flies higher and higher, bringing him on a journey above the playground, clouds and sky, then back down to be caught by his schoolmates. The repeated refrain, "I am here," reinforces the boy's sense of himself in the world, even though he is alone, and his unique point of view is both distinct and easy to understand. Clean, appealing illustrations are distilled to their essential elements, focusing purely on the boy and allowing viewers to add their own details. In the end, the airplane sails to someone else—perhaps a new friend—who kindly returns it to the boy. This was written with autistic children in mind but encompasses a wider subject; any child who is isolated, introverted or simply self-contained will find something of him- or herself to recognize and appreciate here. Overall, an excellent selection, replete with warmth, originality and the promise of good things to come. (Picture book. 3-7)

ALA Booklist (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

A young boy watches as a group of multiethnic children play in the schoolyard, but to him, the activity sounds like one big crash of noise. They are there, and he is here in his own world, where a sailing piece of paper becomes a paper airplane that can be shot into the clouds with him riding it. In the sky, alone, the boy feels what he doesn't on earth at he is a part of things. But then he lands, and his paper airplane is brought to him by a girl. She acknowledges him, and her smile says, I'm here, as well. Written and illustrated by Reynolds to help children understand those on the autism spectrum, or others who may seem different to their peers, this book, with its seemingly small story, captures a slew of feelings, emotions, and reactions: isolation, harmony, friendship, and hope. Watercolors outlined in ink are set against expanses of white pages and seem alternately fragile and brimming with strength. Parents and teachers will find many ways to use this book. Let the conversations soar.

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

A boy feels alone on a crowded playground until he creates a paper airplane "friend" upon which he imagines flying. Satisfyingly, he makes a real friend when a girl returns the plane. Reynolds's lyrical, dreamy text and his simple pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations touchingly portray the boy's painful isolation, then his joyful companionship.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Eloquent, fanciful text and illustrations that sparkle with clarity combine to perfectly portray a solitary boy's flight of imagination. Alone in the schoolyard, the young protagonist sits apart from the others, but he is quite present. "I am here," he says. Happy to examine the details of the world around him, he is fine—until a piece of paper falls right into his lap, ready to be transformed. He folds the paper into an airplane, which then flies higher and higher, bringing him on a journey above the playground, clouds and sky, then back down to be caught by his schoolmates. The repeated refrain, "I am here," reinforces the boy's sense of himself in the world, even though he is alone, and his unique point of view is both distinct and easy to understand. Clean, appealing illustrations are distilled to their essential elements, focusing purely on the boy and allowing viewers to add their own details. In the end, the airplane sails to someone else—perhaps a new friend—who kindly returns it to the boy. This was written with autistic children in mind but encompasses a wider subject; any child who is isolated, introverted or simply self-contained will find something of him- or herself to recognize and appreciate here. Overall, an excellent selection, replete with warmth, originality and the promise of good things to come. (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In the vein of The Dot and Ish, Reynolds offers another characteristically gentle and empathetic small-format book, written from the perspective of a boy who watches, from a distance, as other children play: "They are there. I am here." Their voices are "Splashes upon splashes of sound" that he hears "like one big noise. A big drum. Boom. Boom." When a sheet of paper floats down from the sky ("White rectangle. How did you find me?"), the boy folds it into an airplane. His imagination sends him soaring in a paper airplane ride before the narrative returns to reality, and the plane is retrieved by a girl who returns it to him: " -I'm here,' says the girl's smile." Though back matter explains that the book was written "to help us all reach out, embrace, and appreciate children in the autism spectrum," the pared-down prose and artwork, painted in Reynolds's typical loose style, are open to multiple interpretations and may facilitate conversations about reaching out to others who are different-and alone-for many reasons. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)