Batya Cannot Fly

Batya is an ostrich. She has wings and a beak, but she can’t fly. So is she a bird? The other birds say No, and they make fun of her. They don’t invite her to the Birds’ Club Ball, where a real prince is expected. “You don’t belong to our club!” the sparrow declares, and he flies away. Batya is sad: she so wants to fly, but she can’t. Also, she feels rejected and wonders what she really is. Just after sunset, when she’s really down, she meets a bear who plays the drum. She starts hopping to his drumbeat and the bear is amazed at her dancing skills. “I’ve never seen a bird who dances like you!” he says, and he encourages her to go to the ball. There she meets the prince, and he’s a penguin! He can’t fly either but, like her, he loves to dance! So, the two start tripping around the dance floor. All the birds clap their wings and praise Batya. And the sparrow even says she dances “like a princess.” Batya is so happy she’s floating on air!

A charming tale about being different, about how friendship boosts our self-image and helps us find hidden talents within ourselves.