Children's Book Review: Birds Can Fly and So Can I by Noa Nimrodi

Birds Can Fly and So Can I:
A Giraffe Soars From Dream to Reality
Author:  Noa Nimrodi
Copyright:  2011
Publisher:  Grassroots Publishing Group
ISBN 10:  0-9794805-15
ISBN 13:  978-0-9794805-1-5

http://www.noabooks.com/Birds.aspx


(from the back cover) "If You Can Dream It, You Can Achieve It."
"A delightful giraffe has a lofty dream - to fly in the sky with the birds.  Will her dream remain a vision, or will it - along with her other undiscovered talents -  soar to reality?

Your children will ask you to read Birds Can Fly again and again.  Together you will discover the joy of dreaming and the thrill of achieving cherished goals.

This stunningly illustrated story ends with an interactive page where your little dreamers can record their highest hopes and their deepest desires."

My thoughts: 

Birds Can Fly and So Can I is a cute inspirational storybook written in rhyme with a timeless message.  As giraffe dreams of her highest hope, that of flight, the supporting cast of characters, animals and birds alike, cheer her on.  Once awake, giraffe finds and celebrates a hidden talent, something that draws applause from her friends in the animal kingdom.  While it is not her original dream, giraffe learns a valuable lesson about developing your talents to make your dreams happen.

The message is dare to dream and don't give up on that dream, as Noa Nimrodi shares in this example: 

"Living your dreams is tough to do

But Giraffe did it, and so can you

Look to the sky, there is no end

Burst through the clouds as you ascend"

Cute, right?  Books that encourage children to reach for their dreams are a true gift.  There is an interactive page at the end of the book where the child can record their own aspirations and colour the picture.  Just be sure, as you read this story, to remind little ones that human flight can only be obtained with airplanes, helicopters and the like.  Giraffes ability to fly is only in dreamland.

Appropriate for ages 3 and up, Birds Can Fly and So Can I is illustrated by award-winning artist, Tamir Lichtenberg.  Young children will enjoy following along with the pictures as you read the story.  Birds Can Fly and So Can I is translated to English from Hebrew thanks to the skills of Jeremy Rome.

Rated 3.5/5


A message from the author (taken from the author's website): 
"Hi kids, and all potential dreamers,

Publishing Birds Can Fly was a dream I'm happy to say I have now fulfilled. The journey wasn’t easy, though! The rejection letters I received were discouraging, but I didn't want to give up on my dream.

In Birds Can Fly, Giraffe has a dream as well. She falls asleep, and actually dreams that she can fly through the air like a bird. As she dares to dream the impossible, she realizes that – guess what? – a new, truly possible dream for her is within reach.

So go to sleep, and dream. Dare to dream what you think is impossible, and wake up thinking – guess what? – perhaps there’s an interesting way to make your dream come true.

Dare to fly as high as you can, but land carefully, and turn your dream into something possible and fulfilling."