From his rooftop perch, Malik is perfectly positioned to participate in the kite-flying battles that are part of Basant, the celebration of spring. This year, he has great confidence in the small kite he’s made and given the name Falcon. The boy next door, a bully whom Malik never names, has a huge kite Malik calls Goliath. It’s one of the first ones Malik and Falcon cut down, but far from the last as he battles dozens of colorful kites in the sky. By day’s end, Malik is basking in victory and surrounded by a bounty of kites. So when the bully steals the kite of a small girl on the street far below, Malik tosses his first conquest down to her: Goliath. A wonderfully told story set in Lahore, Pakistan, is set against dynamic mixed-media collage illustrations and followed by an informative author’s note telling more about Basant and the kite battles. The illustrations show that Malik and his family are Muslim; and that Malik uses a wheelchair. (Ages 5–8)

Basant is here, with feasts and parties to celebrate the arrival of spring. But what Malik is looking forward to most is doing battle from his rooftop with Falcon, the special kite he has built for speed. Today is Malik's chance to be the best kite fighter, the king of Basant. In two fierce battles, Malik takes down the kites flown by the bully next door. Then Malik moves on, guiding Falcon into leaps, swirls, and dives, slashing strings and plucking kites from the sky. By the end of the day, Malik has a big pile of captured kites. He is the king! But then the bully reappears, trying to take a kite from a girl in the alley below. With a sudden act of kingly generosity, Malik finds the perfect way to help the girl. This lively, contemporary story introduces readers to a centuries-old festival and the traditional sport of kite fighting, and to a spirited, determined young boy who masters the sport while finding his own way to face and overcome life's challenges.