THE LITTLE CROW THAT DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO FLY

A timid crow receives unexpected help learning how to fly in this debut picture book, based on a true story.

Little Crow is a late starter. He has trouble getting out of his shell. He’s perfectly happy staying safe in the nest with Mama Crow. Who needs to fly? When Mama Crow convinces him to jump out of the nest, he’s stuck on the ground because he can’t figure out how to use his wings. Luckily, a human neighbor sees what has happened and, in a unique twist, uses a toy to help Little Crow learn to fly. Adolfson alternates between presenting the crows as having human thoughts and acting like real birds (they only ever say the word “caw”), and the comedic tone of Little Crow’s reluctance to fly doesn’t quite hit the mark. But the human intervention—and the man’s hands-off approach to aiding the young bird—is a remarkable conclusion that lends itself well to the feel-good moral that you can succeed at scary things with God’s help. Secular readers may bristle at the introduction of faith in the final page, but religious communities, particularly Christian ones, may find it useful for Sunday School classrooms. The uncredited digital illustrations offer friendly, big-eyed cartoon crows and a sympathetic, smart white man.

A clever, if overly conversational, animal tale with an inspirational conclusion.