Melody’s Magical Flying Machine

Melody is ten years old, and she’s about to finish the fourth grade. She loves her teacher, Miss Brown; she tells the best and tallest tales that anyone has ever heard; and she gives the strongest, warmest hugs in the universe. She also has Down syndrome. Almost everyone is kind to Melody, but there’s one boy in her grade who is a bully to her. He makes fun of her for her stories and her short height. One day, Melody meets an enchanted bird called JuJu under the catalpa tree in her backyard. Together, Melody and Juju plan and create a magical flying machine, complete with dragons to pull it and armor for Melody to wear. Melody soars above houses, playgrounds, and more, waving to the people down below. She stands up to bullies and tells her classmates amazing stories about her adventures. With her wonderful imagination, her friend Juju, and the flying machine, Melody finds her own strength and inspires others to live with compassion and bravery too.