“I think the story of Calvin has a theme that is always important” – author Jennifer Berne
What inspired you to write “Calvin Can’t Fly – The Story of a Bookworm Birdie?”
It all started when Keith Bendis, Calvin’s wonderful illustrator, came to me with an idea. What if we wrote a book about a bird who was different from the rest of the flock. I liked the concept right away, and then began to think about what that difference would be. Once I came up with the “bookworm” idea, the rest just started falling into place.
What’s your favorite scene and why?
There are so many scenes that I love. But I think the one that touches me the most is the scene in which he flaps and flaps and flaps, and discovers he CAN fly after all. It moves me because the joy he felt in being appreciated and celebrated by the rest of the flock makes him flap in pure happiness — and that put him in touch with his true bird nature — his ability to fly. In other words, he took flight because he was appreciated by those around him!
Why is this an important story today?
I think the story of Calvin has a theme that is always important. It’s the tale of an outsider who is teased and misunderstood, but by staying true to himself and what he loves, in the end he is not only understood and appreciated, but is actually celebrated. And I think that all of us, no matter what our lives are like, somewhere deep down feel that we’re different and therefore an outsider. So the joy we all feel, once we’re understood and appreciated, becomes one of the greatest joys in life.