One morning while on his route, Henry the paperboy accidentally collides with a sparrow and discovers that he can fly--just like Falconman, his favorite comic strip superhero. The newfound power of flight enables Henry--excuse me, Sparrowboy--to deliver his papers by--er, airmail and also to right a number of minor wrongs in the neighborhood. When things magically return to normal, everything felt just a little better. Since Henry lives on Thurber Street, some adult readers may be reminded of Walter Mitty, but that connection is hardly necessary to enjoy this lighthearted lark. Pinkney combines his signature scratchboard technique with comic strip format and appropriate typefaces to create the illustrations that accompany this affectionate fantasy, which will leave its readers feeling a little bit better, too. (Reviewed April 1, 1997)

Henry enjoys the heroic exploits of comic hero Falconman, whose superpowers are bestowed on him by a falcon. So when a little bird gifts Henry similarly, he's soon saving the neighborhood from marauding bullies, menacing dogs, and more. The rescues slyly overlap and dovetail, and in fine comic-strip style, Pinkney lets the pictures do the talking, limiting text to brief action markers, dialogue, and sound effects.