This adorable baby board book talks about how Bird can fly, then asks if airplanes fly like birds? (No!) But at least Bird can commiserate with the airplane that neither can go to space. In the end, the bird gets to take a rocket into space. Have fun, bird! ( )

Spiro uses a child friendly vocabulary and vibrant illustrations to introduce the basic foundation of airplanes and rockets.

When I initially saw this title I was not impressed. I don't care for board books that are really written for parents or purport to "teach" very young children who should be playing, not memorizing facts or learning to read.

But then I actually read the book and it's awesome! So, never judge a book by its title! The first spread shows a child greeting a small blue bird. Using the bird, Spiro explains flight in simple, child-friendly phrases. "The engines help the plane go fast, fast, fast...then the wings lift the plane into the air." The book progresses from how the bird flies, to how the plane flies, to how a rocket flies, all in simple language and demonstrations that a toddler can understand.

Chan's illustrations show a brown-skinned, gender-neutral child, smiling as they greet and watch the bird, plane and rocket. The pictures are colorful with small details but bold and simple enough for a baby or toddler's developing eyesight.

Verdict: Perfect for parents who want "educational" books for their babies or just delightful for every day reading. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781580895415; Published 2016 by Charlesbridge; Review copy provided by publisher for Cybils; Donated to the library