“This is Bert. It’s his big day.” Bert is a small orange bird heading toward the end of a branch and it’s presumably his big day to finally fly. Or is it? After checking that he’s ready Bert retreats toward his nest, emerging with a banana, which he eats. Then he retreats again, looking worried. “BERT!” yells an off-page voice. Bert steels himself and takes a running leap, only to flip and fall through empty air until “Splash! ... I did it!” Bert cries. His floaty-wearing feathered friends who were waiting in the water below profess their faith in him all along before they all climb back up to do it again. A simple, spare design (branch and bird against white-paged sky with a single blue cloud) and a satisfying, laugh-out-loud twist to the expected outcome makes this a picture book a winner for storytime, as well as a great book to use when talking about prediction and surprise. (Ages 3–7)

Bert was mentally and physically prepared. He checked everything. Again and again. He hesitated. There was something missing-- Oh yes! Refreshment. Not that Bert tried to retreat, no, no, he has just gone for a banana. Maybe if his friends had not all encouraged him, Burt would not dare. But they shouted BERT! because they believed. And it is then, and only then, that Bert felt ready. And he did it.