Flyaway

In a story that combines counting and interactive elements, a princess loses her graceful, long-tailed bird; readers aid in the bird’s escape by lifting a flap on its cage, as well as flaps on subsequent pages that show the bird flying out of each scene and into the next. The princess follows the bird through the ballroom, into the kitchen, and up and down staircases, the castle’s checkerboard floors and geometric spires giving the book a decidedly retro, Mary Blair–esque vibe. Eventually, the princess has a change of heart and allows the bird to go free, leading to a fairy-tale happy ending. The slender, vertical format has a fittingly regal elegance, while seek-and-find prompts (“Can you find 10 butterflies?”) invite readers to engage with the ornate illustrations in yet another way. Ages 3–7. (Apr.)