What if every child knew they were born to fly?

In a world where children are often overwhelmed by pressure to fit in, be perfect, or stay quiet, Michele Gajdzis’ new children’s book, Oh My! I Can Fly!, delivers a refreshing, heartfelt message: You are loved, you have purpose, and you were created to soar. Through the whimsical and deeply symbolic story of a small bird named Barry, Gajdzis gives readers a powerful picture of transformation through hope, strength, and joy.

Barry’s story begins high atop a mountain—not in flight, but in a cage. Small, featherless, and longing for more, Barry spends his days watching other birds glide freely across the sky, wondering if he’ll ever be like them. Right from the start, Gajdzis sets a tone that’s both poetic and deeply relatable. Kids (and the adults reading to them) instantly connect with the ache of feeling trapped or different. Barry’s cage may be physical, but it’s a stand-in for self-doubt, fear, and the limits we place on ourselves.

Enter Wally Bird—a brightly colored parrot who arrives with something unexpected: a gift. One single feather. But it’s not just any feather. This one shines with golden letters and carries a quiet promise. Wally calls it a “Promise Feather,” but he won’t explain what the words mean. Instead, he offers something much more powerful—encouragement, belief, and the hint of a bigger truth.

Each day, Wally returns with more feathers, each a different color, each containing a mysterious message in gold. And each time Barry asks what they mean, Wally simply replies, “Time will tell.”

The beauty of Gajdzis’ storytelling is that it doesn’t rush the process. Barry doesn’t get feathers and suddenly takes flight. Instead, he learns through friendship, faith, and consistent love that his identity isn’t defined by his current condition. He’s not just a caged bird—he’s an eagle.

As more friends arrive—Kenny Bird, the wise and strong eagle, and Harmony Bird, the joyful canary who sings truth into the air—the story shifts into a journey of preparation. Kenny coaches Barry in the discipline of flight. Harmony sings courage into Barry’s heart. And all the while, Barry continues to wonder: when will I be free?

It’s that waiting season that makes Oh My! I Can Fly! is so impactful. Kids today are often caught between who they are and who they want to become. They know what they’re made for, but they don’t know how to get there. Barry’s story acknowledges the frustration of waiting and the fear of failure. It shows that growth takes time—and that community matters.

When Barry’s cage finally shakes open, it’s not through his own strength, but through the power of joy, sung loud and clear. Harmony’s song literally breaks the door open, a moment that beautifully symbolizes what happens when truth is spoken and received. Barry is free—but he’s still scared. And that’s where Wally steps back in, pointing Barry to the very feathers he’s been collecting all along.

One by one, Barry reads the golden words: HOPE. STRENGTH. JOY.

They’re not just nice ideas. They’re the tools that got him here. Each gift was more than decorative—it was transformational.

That’s what makes Michele Gajdzis’ book stand out. It doesn’t just tell a story. It teaches something profound: identity is discovered through love, truth, and time. And when kids realize that, everything changes.

Gajdzis wrote this story as a legacy piece for her granddaughters, Avery, Addyson, and Skylar—but its message resonates with any child who’s ever felt small, stuck, or afraid to try. With its gentle storytelling, stunning illustration potential, and meaningful character arcs, Oh My! I Can Fly! offers more than entertainment. It offers a path forward—for kids to find their voice, embrace their uniqueness, and know they’re not alone.

Parents, teachers, pastors, and caregivers will find this book to be a valuable addition to storytime. It opens up powerful conversations about fear, courage, identity, and faith. It invites kids to see their value, not in what they can do, but in who they are.

And the ending? It’s exactly what you hope it would be.

Barry flies—not because he suddenly grew feathers or figured it all out, but because he believed the truth about himself. He was created to soar.

In a time when children are bombarded by uncertainty and insecurity, Oh My! I Can Fly! is a needed reminder: You were made for more. You are not alone. You are deeply loved.

Michele Gajdzis isn’t just telling a story—she’s sharing a message that has the power to lift hearts and change lives.

So, what’s next for Barry? He’s flying high. And so is Michele Gajdzis—an author on a mission to help the next generation find their wings.