Sydney & Taylor Take a Flying Leap, written by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Deborah Hocking, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary:  Hedgehog Taylor and skunk Sydney are best friends, back again for this second installment of their series. Taylor is ready to share his next Big Idea with Sydney: Taylor wants to fly. Several failed attempts - a blanket held by birds, building his own bat-like wings - end with Sydney breaking his fall, although Sydney continues to remind him that "hedgehogs cannot fly." When they come across a remote-control plane, Taylor at last has his chance to fly - and quickly comes close to crashing into a tree, then must flee from a great hawk. Throughout Taylor's hijinks, Sydney remains a loyal, if reluctant, friend and supporter.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Sydney and Taylor remain the same upbeat, silly pair from the first installment of this early chapter book series, and fans of the first book - as well as fans of Mercy Watson, Frog & Toad, and illustrated chapter books - will be delighted with Taylor's hijinks and Sydney's loyalty in this volume. Use as an impetus for a STEM lesson (What invention could we make to help a hedgehog fly?) or as a science lesson on the categorization of animals.