The Only Way I Can

It’s a familiar setup: a land animal sees a bird flying and becomes determined to do the same. Bird agrees to help Rabbit attempt to fly, though Grubman (Oy Vey! Life in a Shoe) doesn’t mince words about his skepticism: “ ‘What do you think?’ asked Rabbit eagerly. I think it’s crazy, Bird thought to himself.” Working in paint, pencil, and other media, debut illustrator Westermann captures Rabbit’s efforts to fly with tender humor, though never at Rabbit’s expense; the book’s funniest moments are the training sequences in which Rabbit dons a feather suit, pumps iron (a twig with two apples), and races around the meadow, all to no avail. During the climax, Bird worries that Rabbit is planning to toss himself from a cliff in order to fly, but Rabbit has something else in mind, enjoying the resplendent setting from higher ground—“Flying into the sunset, in my own way,” as he puts it. Grubman’s story may not stand out from the crowd, but it makes an effective case for recognizing one’s talents and approaching goals and challenges from a different perspective. Ages 4–up. (May)