This story was straight forward, and good for readers who are looking for relatable characters and straight-forward stories while they gain confidence as readers. I will be waiting to see what the official reviews are for the series before I make a purchasing decision. I am not sure this book is a high-draw book, but definitely has appeal for the right reader.

What a cute book about friendship. It is silly at times and exciting at times. The illustrations will make you smile and the book will make you laugh. It is a great early chapter book for kids. I will be adding the Sydney and Taylor collection to my library. Very fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the DRC

Sydney and Taylor remind me a lot of Elephant and Piggie, in the Mo Willems books.

Sydney wants to be a good friend, and encourage his friend, but he is also honest, and he really doesn’t think that Taylor will fulfil his dream of being able to fly. He does what any good friend would do…he’s there for Taylor whether he succeeds or fails. I like books for young readers when friendships get tricky and friends argue or disagree, this is a fact of life, and it’s nice to see characters dealing with this and working through it, and they’re still friends in the end.

On one level it’s a lovely, first chapter book, with vibrant full colour illustrations. Young readers will love the themes of humour, friendship and determination.

The teacher, that’s still inside me, can see another layer to this seemingly simple story.
Taylor wants to be the World’s First Flying Hedgehog. The only problem is…hedgehogs don’t fly. So what does fly? This is where this book could lead into a whole discussion about flight. We know birds fly, but what else flies? This book gives us some of those answers and provides a great springboard into finding out more.

A cute little tale of a skunk named and Sydney and Taylor the hedgehog. Taylor had a big idea. He wanted to fly. Now we all know hedgehogs do not fly. At first Sydney laughed at Taylor and wasn't a good friend. So Taylor asked the birds for some help. They got a blanket and asked Taylor to sit in the middle, but that didn't turn out well. Some other friends had ideas and tried to help but those ideas didn't turn out well either. Taylor was upset at Sydney because he has not been supportive of this big idea. You will have to read the book to find out if a hedgehog ever gets to fly. The illustrations in this story are great and add so much to the story.

This series is soooooo cute! I am loving the interaction of Sydney and Taylor. They are so fun. The illustrations are gorgeous! I can’t wait for more of this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc of this book to review.

This next installment of the Sydney and Taylor series is delightful. I love the delicate, but straightforward, way that the author shares lessons of being a good friend., being yourself, and achieving your dreams. I'll definitely be adding this one to my early reader collection!

Taylor has a BIG IDEA! His friend Sydney usually supports Taylor's big ideas, but not this time. He thinks it is too dangerous and doesn't want to see his friend hurt. Young readers will love this story of perserverance and friendship. The illustrations by Deborah Hocking are beautiful and compliment the story. This is a great early chapter book for those transitioning readers.

I will most definitely be recommending this book to my emerging chapter book readers. This will fit perfectly with Ricky Ricotta, Chicken Squad, Princess in Black and Frog and Toad. Skunk and Hedgehog are friends and friends help each other out. But what about when a friend wants to do something "impossible"? Read this lovely book about finding solutions to problems together.

Adorable! The illustrations are excellent! The characters are lovable. Animal loving readers are going to want to be cozy in the burrow with these two and will want to adventure with them as well.

Lovely book for early readers of chapter books. The pictures are captivating, and I read it alongside my daughter who truly enjoyed the book so it has also a child approval. This book is about friendship and following and pursuing your ideas. It helps the children to start thinking about their own ideas too. Little Taylor wants to fly, to him everything is possible, but can he do it? I have really enjoyed sharing this book with my daughter and we both recommended it.

I have been looking for chapter books for my grandson who is starting to read. This little book is just what I was looking for. A long enough story to challenge him but with wonderful illustrations and a funny story to keep early readers engaged.

Sydney is a skunk and his best friend is Taylor the Hedgehog. First off the illustrations are fantastic!!! There is so much to look at on every page, the details are wonderful, bright and cheerful.There are 12 short chapters just right to keep a young one’s attention span.

Taylor has a Big Idea, he wants to become the first flying hedgehog and see the world from above. He has been watching and watching the birds and thinks that it can’t be that hard. When he asks his friend Sydney to help him, he at first laughs, and then tries to reason with Taylor. “Wings are not something you can make or find or borrow, said Sydney. “You must be born with wings”. “Sydney was loyal, as all skunks are. But this Big Idea was impossible.Hedgehogs could not fly.

Taylor ventures out on his own, determined to find someone to help him fly. The birds try in a very creative way, by each taking the edge of a blanket while Taylor sits in the middle. However that doesn’t work because the blanket tears.

He tries to fashion wings like a bat out of an umbrella, no good!! Many of his woodland friends try to help him, a deer, a racoon, the birds and the bat.

The neighbor boy has been flying a drone which accidentally lands in the yard where Taylor lives. Skunk decides to help and in the end Taylor gets to “fly” on the drone. There is also excitement as a Great Hawk is after the little hedgehog when he lands in a tree. Not to worry, Skunk helps Taylor fly with the drone again and they chase the hawk away.

This is a wonderful story of big ideas, friendship and working together. Not all plans work but it pays to keep on trying.

I have discovered a new series that will be just perfect for a 6 year old, or any early reader. It’s cuteness will have adults laughing along with the kids.

This book will be available August 2021 but others in the series are available right now!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley

Will post to Amazon upon publication. I could not find this book on BookBub or Barnes and Noble but will check closer to publication date.

This was a cute easy reader chapter book with a good theme. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly anything to write home about either.

Taylor is a hedgehog with big ideas, but is flying a big idea too far. It’s a lovely book of friendship, thinking big and looking after each other. Illustrations are beautiful. Nothing unusual about the book, but still might have a place in a KS1 library.

Another delightful book in the Sydney and Taylor adventures! After the first book tackled Sydney and Taylor exploring the Whole Wide World, this book features Taylor's desire to fly! The two friends struggled as Sydney is trying to be practical in letting Taylor know that hedgehogs can simply not fly, while Taylor is bummed that Sydney is not excited about his Big Idea. This short illustrated chapter book is engaging and makes the reader want to know what will happen next. The illustrations do a wonderful job of complimenting the storyline, too. I'm looking forward to reading more of Sydney and Taylor from Davies!

Taylor is a hedgehog that wants to explore the Whole Wide World. He is full of wonderful ideas to do just that. Sydney his best friend, a skunk, is always the voice of reason. Taylor would like to fly, even though hedgehogs don’t have wings. Sydney doesn’t think this is a wise idea. Eventually, Sydney decides to support his friend’s efforts and the teamwork pays off!

(Spoiler alert) Taylor is eventually able to fly by hopping on a remote control flying toy (or perhaps it’s a drone). Boys will love the story line for this reason.

The illustrations are wonderful and endearing. Please check out this fun new series written for younger elementary students. It will become a favorite for many,

This is a perfect beginning chapter book for kids. My 3-year-old was riveted listening to the story (& this is the first "chapter" book she has sat still for). Charming illustrations and a great tale of friendship will make this a duo kids will love.

For libraries: This is one series you will want to add to your early reader collections.

Sydney and Taylor have their friendship challenged when Taylor has a big idea. The only problem he is a hedgehog and the idea isn't something a hedgehog can do! Sydney tries to tell him but Taylor thinks he knows best.

The pair are reminiscent of classic literary partnerships; Frog and Toad as well as Mr Toad and Badger/Mole.

The illustrations throughout are delightful. They are so detailed and compliment the story telling perfectly.

An ideal story for those young readers ready for something slightly longer than a picture book.

I can imagine lots more fun adventure featuring Sydney and Taylor.

Perfect starter book for a beginning reader who is looking to transfer to chapter books! .......................................................

Sydney and Taylor Take a Flying Leap is a sweet story about friendship and big dreams. It is beautifully illustrated and has interesting animals facts scattered throughout the story. It is perfect for early chapter book readers who are ready for longer chapters and paragraphs.

My students are going to love Sydney & Taylor, the skunk and hedgehog characters that will have you turning pages. Their friendship will completely resonate with my K-2 readers - they live these challenges every day. With illustrations that will make the kids say, “So cute!!!” and just right chapters, this one will be a hit whether you read it aloud or they tackle this one on their own.