There comes a moment in every child’s life when they stand before something new—something exciting yet frightening—and they whisper to themselves, “Can I really do this?” It’s in those moments that faith and courage are born. It’s also in those moments that a story can change everything. Michele Gajdzis’s “Oh My!… I Can Fly! – The Birdie Story” is one of those rare children’s tales that goes far beyond the surface. It does not just tell the story of a bird—it teaches the art of believing. It shows children how to conquer fear, embrace faith, and trust that they were made to soar. The heartbeat of Gajdzis’s story is Barry, a little bird who lives alone in a cage on top of a mountain. His cage is high above the world, yet his dreams reach even higher. He spends his days watching other birds fly freely in the sky, wishing he could do the same. He wants to spread his wings, to feel the wind, to see what lies beyond the clouds. But there’s one problem—he has no feathers and no freedom. His cage is locked, and he feels trapped by what he lacks. That simple but powerful image of a caged bird captures what so many children (and even adults) feel at times—the sense of being held back by doubt, fear, or the unknown. But Barry’s story reminds us that our cages are not permanent. They are challenges meant to be overcome. And that realization begins when faith enters the story.

Barry’s first spark of faith arrives in the form of Wally Bird, a colorful and cheerful parrot who lands near his cage one morning. Wally sees Barry’s sadness and asks why he looks so downhearted. When Barry explains that he wishes to fly but has no feathers, Wally smiles and says words that ignite a new kind of hope: “Do you know that you are an eagle and were created to soar?” Those words are more than encouragement—they are revelation. They awaken Barry’s sense of identity. From that day forward, Wally becomes a symbol of divine guidance and faith. Every day, he brings Barry a new Promise Feather—blue, red, yellow—each one shimmering with golden letters that hold meaning Barry cannot yet understand. Wally simply tells him, “Time will tell.” Each feather represents a promise waiting to unfold: Hope, Strength, and Joy. These are the tools that Barry will one day use to fly—not physical feathers, but inner qualities that give wings to the soul.

Barry’s transformation truly begins when he meets Kenny Bird, a majestic eagle who becomes his teacher. Kenny’s lessons are not easy. He teaches Barry how to flap his wings, how to stay determined, and how to keep trying even when it hurts. “Up and down, up and down,” Kenny chants, as Barry struggles to move his small wings. In these moments, Michele Gajdzis gives children a powerful lesson about perseverance. Growth does not come instantly—it is built through patience and effort. Kenny’s encouragement, “Don’t give up,” becomes a message every child can carry. Through repetition and faith, Barry’s wings begin to strengthen. Later, Harmony Bird enters the story, a joyful yellow canary whose songs fill Barry’s cage with music. Her song—“I got hope, I got strength, I got joy, OH BOY!”—becomes Barry’s heartbeat. Her melody transforms his worry into worship, his fear into freedom. Harmony shows that joy is not something we wait for; it is something we create through gratitude and belief.

The turning point of the story arrives when Barry’s cage begins to shake and tremble. Suddenly, the door bursts open—and for the first time, Barry is free. Yet even in freedom, fear lingers. He hesitates at the edge, unsure if he can really fly. “I’m scared,” he says. “I can’t do this.” Wally’s calm voice echoes again, reminding him, “Time will tell.” That phrase, repeated throughout the book, carries a deep spiritual meaning. It reminds readers that faith unfolds in its own time. The moment Barry finally looks at his Promise Feathers and realizes their meaning—Hope, Strength, Joy—he understands that he had everything he needed all along. When Barry finally leaps into the air, shouting, “Oh My! I Can Fly!”, it’s not just a victory for him—it’s a revelation for every reader. The very thing that once confined him has now become the place from which he soars.

Michele Gajdzis’s story is more than an imaginative children’s tale—it’s a guide for raising resilient, faith-filled children in today’s uncertain world. The story gently teaches that every challenge is a lesson, every friendship a blessing, and every dream a divine gift waiting to be realized. Children reading Barry’s story see themselves in his struggles. They see that failure doesn’t define them—it refines them. They learn that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the decision to try anyway. And most importantly, they learn that they are loved and created with purpose. For parents, teachers, and grandparents, “Oh My!… I Can Fly!” becomes a conversation starter. It opens doors to talk about self-belief, faith, kindness, and perseverance. It encourages adults to remind children that, like Barry, they already have the feathers they need—hope to start, strength to endure, and joy to keep going.