ABANDONED. Little yellow bird with goggles trying to learn how to fly?

[Anna]

My friend and her husband just welcomed their first child, a daughter, 3 months ago.

Unfortunately her husband is terminally ill, with just a short time to live.

One of his wishes is to find a book his father used to read to him growing up.

Here is what he remembers about the book:

Publishing date: Joe was born in 1980. His father likely bought it in a supermarket in Southern California early 1980s.

Bits of plot:
It's a book about a yellow bird that can't fly.
His name was maybe Frankie.
He keeps trying, and at the end he gets it
The bird had goggles.
There were no other (main) characters other than the bird.

Binding
Thin, soft binding.

Picture book, very simple, both illustrations and text.
For little children.

Possible Phrases or refrains:
"Ready set fly.... crash"
"Fly, Frankie, Fly"

We have searched the web and databases for something that fits this memory, but with nothing yet.

Any tips that fit much welcome. (Please note publishing year range - there are lots and lots of newer books about birds learning to fly).

Some commons suggestions we already have ruled out is, Frankie flies, Are you my mother.

Thank you!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Longshot, maybe The Little Yellow Bird and the Lambikin by Enid Blyton. I don't see a description.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Anna, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Kate]

Anna, you've given great details. Let us know if you are still looking. We have many books that are found after being sought for even longer years than you have.

[Anna]

Thanks so much for checking in on this. Incredibly sadly, Joe passed about two years ago. We never found the book.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

That's terrible. However, if the book could be found, it could still be meaningful to their young child. We'll keep the thread open just in case....you never know.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Moving to Abandoned now.