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I Can Fly
A bird can fly.
So can I.
A cow can moo.
I can, too.
So begins the simple, delightful rhyme by Ruth Krauss that both celebrates and encourages a child’s imagination. Mary Blair’s vibrant artwork, found in the Golden Books archives and newly scanned, looks as fresh as it did 50 years ago.
So can I.
A cow can moo.
I can, too.
So begins the simple, delightful rhyme by Ruth Krauss that both celebrates and encourages a child’s imagination. Mary Blair’s vibrant artwork, found in the Golden Books archives and newly scanned, looks as fresh as it did 50 years ago.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
14 people are currently reading
604 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Krauss
76 books79 followersRuth Ida Krauss was an American writer of children's books, including The Carrot Seed, and of theatrical poems for adult readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 9, 2020
Tonight, the nephew chose to pick a Little Golden book off our shelf in an odd turn of events. This is a very beginning book with cute illustrations. It took about a whole minute to read. It’s about a girl and all the things she can do and ways she can use her imagination I thought it was a great beginning book for new kids.
The nephew realized quickly how young this was and he saw his mistake. He wanted to pick another one, but I made him read this first and he still sailed threw it. He said he’s ready to get rid of this one. I told him that he is outgrowing these books. He didn’t seem to care. He gave this 1 star.
The nephew realized quickly how young this was and he saw his mistake. He wanted to pick another one, but I made him read this first and he still sailed threw it. He said he’s ready to get rid of this one. I told him that he is outgrowing these books. He didn’t seem to care. He gave this 1 star.
July 11, 2012
Loved it! The story is fun with rhyming text of the little girl pretending to be like various animals, but the illustrations completely won me over. I love all the details in how the little girl matches the animals she pretends to be--things like her sunhat looking like a clam shell, or the pillows she piles on her back matching the blankets on the camel's hump. Mary Blair did a lot of work for Disney back in its golden age and I am a huge fan of her work, so I was really excited when I found this at the library sale and I knew I'd love the illustrations. Utterly charming! Adults will likely appreciate the slightly vintage feel to this (1950s) book, but I think the illustrations and story are timeless and will win over imaginative children of today, especially those who like animals. Very happy to see it is still issued today as a Golden Book "Classic", though I did read in one review that the current version is shorter than the original.
May 10, 2022
Beautiful illustrations. We are fans of Mary Blair and this book did not disappoint. It's a simple, sweet story about a cute little girl and her imagination and what she can do. My kids loved it!
March 7, 2025
Amo Mary Blair.
Il tratto così gioioso e, ora, una coccola vintage.
Il tratto così gioioso e, ora, una coccola vintage.
January 22, 2019
মেরি ব্লেয়ারের দারুণ অলংকরণের জন্যেই বইটা সংগ্রহে রাখার মতো।
January 10, 2025
A little girl imagines that she can fly like a bird, moo like a cow, swim like a fish, and hoot like an owl. She can be anything in her imagination!
I love that there is a little song at the back of the book with sheet music, so that you can sing along. The little girl looks so free and jubilant in the illustrations! Adorable!
I love that there is a little song at the back of the book with sheet music, so that you can sing along. The little girl looks so free and jubilant in the illustrations! Adorable!
September 16, 2013
4* art
4* story
Squirt's favorite page - he repeats "pick, pick, pick, pick" for the rest of the book.
4* story
Squirt's favorite page - he repeats "pick, pick, pick, pick" for the rest of the book.
November 12, 2024
There are SO MANY Golden Books I have missed!
This little gem is actually a song (music on the last page) but for those musically challenged among us, it can be read as a poem. The sweet-faced little girl on the cover pretends to be various animals and in such clever ways your toddler or young mimic will have fun trying to copy her copying them.
4.5 ⭐
This little gem is actually a song (music on the last page) but for those musically challenged among us, it can be read as a poem. The sweet-faced little girl on the cover pretends to be various animals and in such clever ways your toddler or young mimic will have fun trying to copy her copying them.
4.5 ⭐
November 1, 2011
The illustrations in this book are beautiful.
August 15, 2015
sent one to Helene B.
August 3, 2023
দারুণ মিইষ্টি ছবিগুলো!
November 12, 2013
Ruth Krauss, I Can Fly (Golden Press, 1951)
The printing of this we have is from 1992, from a series of re-releases commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Golden Books. They chose a bunch of the ones they consider classics to bring back out. What parameters they used other than age, I do not know. One of the things about the older Golden Books that attracts me these days is that, in general, the language in them would today be aimed at first readers rather than the pre-lit crowd; it's not as aggressively simplistic. Here's the exception to the rule; this could just as easily have been written in 2011 as 1951, for all the linguistic reaching it's asking your kid to do. I wasn't all that fond of it, though as usual with Golden the illustrations are homey and comforting. More importantly, though, Davey didn't want much to do with it after the first few pages and, as I have often said, these days he is the final arbiter where pre-lit is concerned at Goat Central; not sure how much play this one's going to get at book tome from here on out. **
The printing of this we have is from 1992, from a series of re-releases commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Golden Books. They chose a bunch of the ones they consider classics to bring back out. What parameters they used other than age, I do not know. One of the things about the older Golden Books that attracts me these days is that, in general, the language in them would today be aimed at first readers rather than the pre-lit crowd; it's not as aggressively simplistic. Here's the exception to the rule; this could just as easily have been written in 2011 as 1951, for all the linguistic reaching it's asking your kid to do. I wasn't all that fond of it, though as usual with Golden the illustrations are homey and comforting. More importantly, though, Davey didn't want much to do with it after the first few pages and, as I have often said, these days he is the final arbiter where pre-lit is concerned at Goat Central; not sure how much play this one's going to get at book tome from here on out. **
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November 15, 2016The amazing thing about this book is that it has a girl protagonist. And she does a lot of things. Sad that in 2016 that is still amazing and unusual. Original copyright is 1951, reissued in 1979 & 2003.
The girl's activity stands out to me -- she acts out different animals, and in her imagination she is all of them -- crawling and jumping and climbing all over the place, making sound effects.
I can’t say I like the illustrations because they honestly remind me of a fever dream I had when I was little.
I can’t even say I like the book that much. It seems like maybe experimental poetry for adults instead of written for children.
But the active, imaginative, somewhat belligerent and explorative girl character, I do like.
Who says: “Who can climb anywhere? Me! Like a bear.”
The girl's activity stands out to me -- she acts out different animals, and in her imagination she is all of them -- crawling and jumping and climbing all over the place, making sound effects.
I can’t say I like the illustrations because they honestly remind me of a fever dream I had when I was little.
I can’t even say I like the book that much. It seems like maybe experimental poetry for adults instead of written for children.
But the active, imaginative, somewhat belligerent and explorative girl character, I do like.
Who says: “Who can climb anywhere? Me! Like a bear.”
September 23, 2019
This is familiar to me from my childhood. Children's books about the power of imagination are a dime a dozen; this is an adequate, classic take on the subject, but doesn't rival the more strange, dangerous, evocative, fantastic takes on the trope (like Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are or Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon). What makes it successful is the playfulness, creativity, and Blair's vibrant art--particularly the clever details that mirror the protagonist to the animals and which give the book so much life.
November 2, 2018
A great children's book about imagination and being what ever you want. I think it's such an amazing lesson to teach kids. That you can imagine and dream to be anything you want. One day you can create and express it. The pictures were the thing that just made me fall in love with this book though. This little girl is so freaking adorable. I could frame any of these drawing and hang them in a room. Totally adorable.
June 24, 2017
This is a classic reissue of the Ruth Krauss's classic which is a great book for emergent and early readers. Limited print on each page presented in rhymed verse as a young girl copies the actions of animals in her world. Clear illustration print match set up nicely to invite interaction. Good for a read aloud at home or in the classroom.
November 13, 2012
This was one of my all-time favorite children's books. Have you seen her outfits and how they match the animals?! (Well, most of them.)
The little chick is the best.
*Unfortunately, the newer editions have several pages removed.
The little chick is the best.
*Unfortunately, the newer editions have several pages removed.
October 8, 2015
An entire college course, if not curriculum, could be taught using Mary Blair's illustrative style. Her artwork is sheer perfection.
I had this book when I was very young -- maybe four or five -- and I didn't remember the text entirely, but I never forgot the illustrations.
I had this book when I was very young -- maybe four or five -- and I didn't remember the text entirely, but I never forgot the illustrations.
February 19, 2020
I worried that he was too old for this book, but my five-year-old adored the rhymes and the funny comparisons between the children and the animals they were imitating.
July 23, 2012
Not the LSD parable I thought it was going to be, but still good.
May 3, 2015
Colorful and cute.
May 7, 2015
So lovely!
July 21, 2017
This is a beautiful book. I felt like I was watching an old-time Disney movie. The poem is delicate and sweet. Great read-aloud!
January 9, 2018
Mary Blair is the perfect illustrator for this whimsical children's book.
March 9, 2018
Mary Blair's illustrations make this still one of my favorite Little Golden Books.
March 29, 2018
Illustrations by Disney artist Mary Blair.
Delightful. Would be fun to use for a student presentation.
Delightful. Would be fun to use for a student presentation.
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June 7, 2020Had my little brother read this one it's pretty cute!
May 29, 2018
Great artwork and fun rhyming text for me are always a winning combination. This book is all that and more. It is a great early reader that will have children singing the words and loving the story.
April 24, 2023
If I had only one book to buy for new parents, it would be (usually is) this.
August 29, 2018
Great read for young children, my baby nephew listens at full capacity and enjoys every word !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews