City life can be precarious, even for birds! Prior to the title page, an eager kestrel peeks up at the reader and announces, "Today is the day we are all going to fly." The fearful narrator plunges from rooftop, lands on a ledge, lunges again, and finally experiences the exuberance of flight. Threatened by a hawk at Coney Island, the young kestrel escapes into a subway train. Upon exit, he's lost until he hears his family calling him home. With minimal text, it is the ink-and-watercolor illustrations that relate most of the adventure, even a few incidents not mentioned in the narrative. The kestrel's ups and downs are shown from a variety of almost dizzying perspectives. Children will identify with the kestrel's desire for independence, cheer his resourcefulness in the face of danger, and take comfort in his return home. Linda Perkins Copyright c American Library Association. All rights reserved