Book Review: A Kite for Melia

Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell

An uplifting tale of a young girl who won’t take no for an answer

There are plenty of ways to teach kids about perseverance but none quite as effective as a beautifully illustrated story. A Kite for Melia is just that. In it, a young girl is given the task of creating something brand new with little to no help, and her experience is one that most kids will end up having in one way or another. With beautiful illustrations and a simple but heartwarming story, A Kite for Melia is a book that kids will enjoy learning from.

Melia is a spirited child sitting on the sidelines of life but ready to get back in the game. After reminiscing about the good times she had with her dog Ginger, she works up the courage to ask to play with the older children and their kites. Unfortunately, their response isn’t what she was hoping for. 

Rather than be discouraged, she decides to take their unfriendly advice and make her own kite despite not knowing how to and not knowing anyone who can teach her. This begins her journey of making something that she can be proud of as she copes with the loss of her beloved dog and the sting of not being included.

Perseverance is the major takeaway from A Kite for Melia, and it’s a lesson that shows up in a few ways. Not only does Melia have to figure out a way to not be discouraged by her lack of kite-making skills, she also has to overcome the feelings of sadness from being turned away by potential friends. There are numerous roadblocks that Melia encounters throughout this story, and each one would be an understandable reason to move on and find another activity to partake in. I love that she just keeps pushing through. After each setback, she moves closer and closer to achieving her goals and even closer to finding that joy she had with her dog.

I love how this book addresses grief. Losing an animal can be a tough experience for children, but finding ways to remember them and remain joyful are lessons we can all benefit from. The authors (Samuel & Freda Narh) do a magnificent job of incorporating grief into a story that doesn’t focus solely on the subject.

The cover of A Kite for Melia immediately captured my interest and would make it stand out among the other kids’ books in a bookstore. Luckily, the cover is just the beginning of what turns out to be some of the most beautiful children’s book illustrations I’ve ever seen. The illustrator, Valeria Suria, uses a wide range of colors and soft tones to help tell the story of Melia and her kite. The characters are wide-eyed and expressive but it’s her visual depictions of nature that gripped me most. Fireflies in a nighttime sky, tall baobab trees, and friendly animals grace the pages of this book and incorporate a wonderful natural element to this story. The images are what made me go back to the beginning and start again after finishing it. 

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