Will I love Mel Fell?

I couldn’t help but fall in love with Mel, a young Kingfisher bird who one day bravely decides to leave the nest. To me, this is the best blend of fiction and nonfiction, heart and humor.

Mel is a determined character who tries something new even though she’s scared. The book is encouraging, sweet, and beautifully illustrated. Even the format of the book is fun, as you rotate it around while reading.

Sitting on the bookshelf horizontally (swing on top)—I was intrigued the moment I laid eyes on it and it did not disappoint. 

Just about every book I own is structured the same with the spine is always on the side of the book. But this book has the spine on top! I opened the book and flipped the pages up as Mel falls down the tree. Then, through the clever illustrations and design of the text, I wound up turning the book upside and found myself flipping the pages down to make Mel fly back up the tree. What sorcery… show more.

You’ll fall along with the main character, Mel, a kingfisher, in this clever vertical read beginning right from the title page. The vertical format humorously highlights the action of Mel “falling,” faster and faster, as squirrels and bees, ants and the eight hands of spiders try to come to her rescue until—SPLASH! See what happens when you rotate the book. Did Mel really fall? Tabor’s art is delightful and amusing.