Harley Hitch Takes Flight by Vashti Hardy

Whenever I’m asked for class novel recommendations for Year 2, Harley Hitch is always my answer. This sparky inventor with regularly changing hair colour is enthusiastic and ready for anything! Along with her delightful robot dog, Sprocket, and her best mate, Cosmo, she’s the most wonderful role model for anyone interested in how things work. As always, Harley wants to do the right thing but stumbles a bit along the way. No matter what, she has the best interests of those she loves at heart and will stop at nothing to put things right.

In Harley Hitch Takes Flight – the fourth book in this unique STEM adventure series – there’s huge news! The Aviation Parade is coming to Forgetown. Young inventors have the opportunity to create a flying machine inspired by the wonders of nature. Harley can’t wait to join in and has so many ideas. This is her chance to invent something amazing and solve a problem for Cosmo. Harley thinks he really needs a pet. Maybe a robotic hippogriff is the answer!

Themes of friendship and the importance of working as a team take centre stage as Cosmo begins to feel left out. An inspiring female aviator shows the children the way to success and helps them put things right again. The use of AI to bring the robot hippogriff to “life” gives the story a very modern turn and provides opportunities for young readers to consider just how far technology can go. There is so much for teachers to explore with their classes if using this as a shared story.

Vashti Hardy’s creative storytelling along with George Ermos’s brilliant illustrations breathe life into these characters. It’s wonderful to see some favourites from earlier books too – the advice-giving fish of the Rusty River, the beautiful talking stars who offer help at just the right time and, of course, the ever-competitive Fenelda .

Harley Hitch Takes Flight is sure to be a huge hit in primary classrooms and at home with young readers age 7+. Thank you to Scholastic for a copy of this wonderful book!