Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    White Fur Flying
    White Fur Flying
    White Fur Flying
    Ebook62 pages48 minutes

    White Fur Flying

    By Patricia MacLachlan

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    A young boy tries to find his voice with the help of some four-legged friends in this “elegantly spare novel about the healing power of dogs and love” (Publishers Weekly), from the Newbery-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall.

    Zoe’s family rescues dogs in need. There is always the sweet smell of dog and a warm body looking to cuddle or play. There is always a new dog to be saved, and loved. Fur flies everywhere. It covers everything. Zoe’s house is never silent.

    The house across the street is always silent these days. A new family has moved in and Phillip, the boy, has stopped speaking. He doesn’t even want to try.

    Saving dogs and saving boys may be different jobs, but Zoe learns that some parts are the same. Both take attention and care. They take understanding and time. And maybe just a bit of white fur flying.

    From Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan, White Fur Flying is an endearing tale of companionship and hope that is “beautifully told, quietly moving, and completely satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews).
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMargaret K. McElderry Books
    Release dateMar 19, 2013
    ISBN9781442421738
    White Fur Flying
    Author

    Patricia MacLachlan

    Patricia MacLachlan (1938–2022) was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb’s Story; Edward’s Eyes; The True Gift; Waiting for the Magic; White Fur Flying; Fly Away; and Snow Horses. She lived in western Massachusetts.

    Read more from Patricia Mac Lachlan

    Related to White Fur Flying

    Related ebooks

    Children's Animals For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Golden Spike

      Sep 1, 2019

      Golden Spike
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Sunchild

      Aug 5, 2020

      The Sunchild
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Island Of Many Colors

      Nov 1, 2020

      The Island Of Many Colors
      7 min read

    • Article

      Wishing For Christmas

      Nov 1, 2020

      Wishing For Christmas
      5 min read

    • Article

      The GIRL WHO LISTENED with HER FEET

      Apr 1, 2020

      The GIRL WHO LISTENED with HER FEET
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Water Of Life

      Mar 2, 2022

      The Water Of Life
      4 min read

    • Article

      Delayed Reactions

      Feb 1, 2023

      Delayed Reactions
      6 min read

    • Article

      Sunflowers in Skagway

      Jan 1, 2023

      Sunflowers in Skagway
      4 min read

    • Article

      The WITCH GIRL

      Oct 20, 2021

      The WITCH GIRL
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Witch GIRL

      Oct 24, 2023

      The Witch GIRL
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Ghostly Shadow

      Apr 23, 2020

      The Ghostly Shadow
      2 min read

    • Article

      School Zoo

      Aug 3, 2023

      School Zoo
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Good Servant

      Aug 8, 2022

      Windsor, March 1932 “Good evening, Miss Crawford.” A smart young man in uniform was waiting on the platform when she stepped off the train. She was startled. “Aye. That’s me. How did you know?” “Easy.” He smiled. “There aren’t that many young ladies

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Big Black Box

      Jan 31, 2023

      The Big Black Box
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Big Black Box

      Jan 31, 2023

      The Big Black Box
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Mansion Of The Cats

      Oct 4, 2023

      The Mansion Of The Cats
      4 min read

    • Article

      secret Agent Cows

      Oct 1, 2019

      secret Agent Cows
      7 min read

    • Article

      The RED JUNGLEFOWL in the FAIRY TEACUP

      Apr 1, 2020

      MIN WAS USED to unexpected visitors at the amusement park where Grandpa worked. Once, there was a yellow stray dog napping in a train car. Another time, a nonvenomous snake slithered among horses on the carousel, as if introducing itself and making f

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Bees Are Coming

      Aug 4, 2022

      The Bees Are Coming
      7 min read

    • Article

      Operation Unicorn

      Nov 4, 2020

      Operation Unicorn
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Guitar Pig Mystery

      Jan 1, 2022

      The Guitar Pig Mystery
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Red-Tailed Hawk

      Apr 4, 2023

      The spring of 1954 in the mountains of East Tennessee brought forth a renewal of life. I was 12 years old and given the responsibility of watching over a brood of newly hatched chicks. They were very important to our family. Once grown, we could eat,

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Christmas Day Kitten

      Nov 1, 2022

      The Christmas Day Kitten
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Change of Plans

      Aug 1, 2023

      A Change of Plans
      2 min read

    • Article

      Expecting Unexpected Company

      Dec 7, 2021

      Expecting Unexpected Company
      4 min read

    • Article

      Just the THING

      May 18, 2022

      Just the THING
      3 min read

    • Article

      Philomena's Happy Place

      Apr 3, 2023

      Philomena's Happy Place
      3 min read

    • Article

      My Pegasus

      Aug 27, 2020

      My Pegasus
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for White Fur Flying

    4/5

    61 ratings10 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This early chapter book was a great example of the genre. It provides a smooth transition for readers who no longer need as much controlled vocabulary, and do not need illustrations on every page, but who are not yet ready for a book as long and complex as some of the novels for the middle school age group. This book was a fun read, I do love stories about dogs and I thought the situation of Phillip, and Zoe's reaction, were depicted in a way that would make sense to and intrigue the readers in this stage of development.
    • 3/5
      Dedication:

      For Sue Carlin and all
      those who rescue dogs --

      And for those who adopt
      and foster them.

      It is a heroic, never-ending job.

      And for Kodi.

      This story is about a family whose mom rescues great pyrenees dogs and whose dad is a vet. A boy moves in next door with his aunt & uncle. The boy doesn't speak and he quickly bonds with the dogs.

      This a cute story about how dogs can change your life and how dogs are very sensitive to people's needs. They know who needs their love most and are able to give it. Sometimes dogs know that people need saving when they don't even know it themselves.

      I enjoyed this story. It literally took me an hour to read. This story will appeal to any dog lover or kid who has always wanted a dog...

      Recommended to:
      Readers in grades 3-5 (or anyone else who loves dogs).
    • 5/5
      It was good I liked how the family adopts dogs even though I am a cat person
    • 4/5
      Zoe’s house is always full of flying fur! Her mom rescues Great Pyrenees dogs until they can find a safe and permanent home. Dogs are always coming and going, except the one dog that is always with them, Kodi. Zoe and her sister, Alice, love the dogs and get very attached to them. When the girls see a car drop off a young boy at the house next door, they're instantly curious. Out in the country new kids are rare. Zoe and Alice don’t learn much about the new neighbor, just that his name is Phillip, and he's living with his aunt and uncle for some unknown reason. It's hard to find out any information because Phillip won’t talk, but he does seem to enjoy the company of Kodi. He also listens to the girls as they talk to him, but he seems lost in his emotions and doesn’t want to let anyone in. Of course, Zoe is curious about him and his reasons for not talking, but she agrees to wait it out. When Phillip goes missing during a major storm, everyone is frantic. To make matters worse, Kodi is missing too. Where have they gone? Will Phillip ever let his emotions out and tell the girls about himself? Why is he so afraid to talk to them. What will happen if Phillip and Kodi can’t be found? If you're looking for a short read with an emotional impact, this is the perfect book for you!

      White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan is a book about patience, acceptance, unconditional friendship, and being comfortable enough to be ourselves. Zoe is a character I can relate to, she's kind and loves those around her. My heart went out to Phillip and his aunt because they were both going through their own struggles. I especially enjoyed Zoe’s mom because she seems to have wonderful intuition about animals and humans. I think kids in second grade and up will enjoy this book, as it's a shorter chapter book, but has important themes and will make them think. It's always fun to read a book in one sitting! This story makes you realize what an important emotional connection people and animals have!
    • 4/5
      When a some new neighbors move in next door Zoe's family is very curious. The family seems very standoffish and the don't talk. Phillip the young boy won't speak to people at all. That is until Zoe's mom introduces Phillip to their rescued great Pyrenees dog Kodi. One night Zoe's family. When the dog and Phillip goes missing during a huge storm everyone is very concerned. Phillip had followed the dog to a barn where they had shelter.
    • 3/5
      Gracefully written and touching.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the story, appreciated the perspective and agree that White Fur Flying is good for a transitional reader. The human animal connection was a powerful element within the storyline. However, my mind began to wander towards of the possibilities of using this book to approach and discuss social issues or issues that arise in children's lives, such as divorce and/or domestic violence. Some students not only need characters to identify with, such as Phillip, but also need stories such as this to explore a world that may be foreign to them where rainbows and unicorns are not ever present. The subtle mention of the problems of Phillip's parents allows for connections, questions and curiosity but does not rip the carpet of innocence out from underneath a young readers feet.
    • 4/5
      Good story for beginning chapter book readers and dog lovers.
    • 4/5
      A sweet story about a family who rescues Great Pyrenees dogs and sends white fur flying to heal a dysfuncuntional neighbor family. Zoe, the eldest daughter, is the narrator and first to understand Phillip's reason for not speaking, but it is her younger sister, Alice, the poet and writer, who brings it all together in the end with her eloquent poem and journal entry. Lena the African grey parrot provides comic relief and, in some ways, has the last word.
    • 3/5
      Zoe’s family rescues and fosters Great Pyrenees dogs until they can be adopted into a nice home. When a new family with a little boy who won’t talk moves in next door, Zoe and the family dog Kodi try to make friends. Zoe realizes that maybe the dogs and the rescued African grey parrot Lena can help Phillip to want to speak again. The story is fairly short, but quite sweet and it explores family dynamics in the two families as well as the important positive influence that animals can have in people’s lives. The dogs, and their fur, give the book its name and its heart. The African grey parrot Lena adds humor to the story and Zoe’s little sister Alice helps bring things together at the end of the book. This charming story about rescuing dogs and boys should appeal to animal lovers and kids in grades three through five.

    Book preview

    White Fur Flying - Patricia MacLachlan

    title.jpg

    For Sue Carlin and all those who rescue dogs—

    And for those who adopt and foster them.

    It is a heroic, never-ending job.

    And for Kodi.

    fur

    MY THANKS TO EMILY CHAREST

    chapter 1

    Once upon a time there was a wicked queen, said my younger sister, Alice.

    She peered out the window at the house over the field and across the small brook. I looked and saw a woman, her hair piled on top of her head, walking up the sidewalk. She was followed by movers carrying furniture.

    The wicked queen had two children. They were bad children and she often punished them.

    Alice! said Mama from the screened side porch. Can’t you tell a pleasant story?

    Alice was the storyteller in the family, some of her stories filled with hilariously mean characters.

    How did she punish them? I asked.

    Zoe! Don’t encourage her.

    I watched my mother through the open door to the porch. She brushed Kodi. She always brushed dogs on the screened porch, then swept all the hair up.

    If I brush them outside, she had said, the hair blows around and hangs on the trees and bushes.

    Kodi was a Great Pyrenees, 140 pounds of white fur. May, almost as big, stood waiting for her turn. There was fur everywhere—porch floor, furniture, and on Mama’s jeans. Soon May would be adopted into a new family, and there would be other new dogs, one after the other.

    Mama rescued Pyrs, as she called them, and found homes for them so they wouldn’t be put to sleep. Once, we had five of them in our house. When they lay on the wood living-room floor, they made a huge, deep white rug.

    I watched the movers carry a sapphire blue velvet couch into the house along with two matching chairs.

    Mama came to look out the window too.

    No Great Pyrs on that furniture, I said.

    That’s for sure, Mama said. Not on that beautiful couch and those chairs. There’s probably no dogs there at all, said Mama. Or cats.

    And no children, I said.

    We watched a series of tables with carved legs be carried in. And then velvet drapes were carefully lifted by two men.

    She punished her children in the drapes, announced Alice, making me jump. I’d almost forgotten she was there.

    She rolled them up like burritos, so only their heads showed. They couldn’t get into trouble that way.

    Mama couldn’t help laughing.

    You have a way, Alice, she said.

    We watched the second pair of bright velvet drapes be carried in.

    I suppose I should be neighborly and invite her over for tea, said Mama.

    Not in this house, Mama, I said. Not during shedding season.

    We watched white fur flying into the room, carried by the summer breezes coming off the porch. Some stuck to Mama’s shirt. A clump floated by my nose, so close I

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1