What It Feels Like to Read Made to Fly Free Together

A few handmade robins joining us for storytime.

Spring has sprung, but here in Minnesota, we’ve had a slow start with a fair share of gray days, so we’ve been taking those opportunities to snuggle up with books for read-aloud time.

The girls usually like to keep their hands busy while I read, and lately they’ve been needle felting while we settle in together.

What I love most about read-aloud time is how it slows everyone down. The distractions quiet, kids snuggle in closer, and before long, everyone is carried away in the story together.

It’s never really about rushing to finish the book. It’s more about enjoying the conversations, connection, and moments that happen along the way.

So today, I wanted give you a little glimpse into what it might feel like to read Made to Fly Free together.

The Feeling of the Illustrations

One of the first things kids tend to notice is the warmth of the illustrations.

I love the color palette my illustrator chose because everything feels soft, calming, and inviting. The warm tones create the kind of atmosphere where children can settle in and simply enjoy the story.

There are also so many sweet little details woven throughout the pages.

Some of the quietest pages in the story became some of my favorites.

As the story progresses, Little Peep changes from a fuzzy little robin into a growing bird with new flight feathers beginning to come in. There’s one beautiful illustration where he’s quietly preening himself, almost as if he’s preparing for what comes next.

It gives the feeling that growth is happening, even before he fully realizes it himself.

The Moments Kids Instantly Understand

Some of my favorite moments are the ones kids immediately relate to emotionally.

At one point, Peep tries scrambling out of the nest before he’s really ready. He pops open his wings confidently, loses his balance, and tumbles backward into the nest with feathers flying everywhere.

Kids always seem to get a good chuckle out of that scene.

But they understand it, too.

They know what it feels like to try something new and realize it’s harder than expected.

There’s another moment where Peep is practicing in the nest, fluttering his wings as fast as he can.

“Flutter, flutter, flutter… heart beating fast.”

The illustrator added the tiniest little heart on Peep’s chest to show the excitement pounding inside him as he gets closer to taking flight for the first time.

That mix of excitement and nervousness before trying something new for the very first time.

Moments That Make Kids Lean In

One of my favorite scenes is when the children below the nest finally notice the robin family above them.

The children watch in wonder as Mama and Papa Robin feed Peep and care for him while he grows stronger.

Meanwhile, Peep notices the children too.

And unlike his cautious parents, he’s completely delighted by the attention.

He waves hello, chirps boldly, and seems eager to engage with them right away.

There’s even a playful little cluster of exclamation marks and chatter marks near the page turn that hints something exciting is happening below. It creates just enough curiosity to make kids eager to turn the page and see what happens next.

Because this story was inspired by my own children observing robins in our yard, the children in the illustrations were drawn as an older brother with two younger sisters, which makes those scenes feel especially meaningful to me.

Because Growth Takes Time

At the beginning of the story, Peep is ready to leave the nest immediately.

He sees the children swinging below and thinks, I’m ready too.

Before Peep can fly, he has to wait for his flight feathers to come in. He spends his days eating, growing stronger, practicing, resting, and listening to encouragement from his parents whenever impatience creeps in.

Some pages simply create space to notice the process.

Children pause over the tiny illustrations of Peep waiting in the nest—looking bored, playing around, nibbling food, watching the world below him, wondering when his moment will finally come.

And honestly, I think there’s something comforting about that slower rhythm.

Baby robins are only in the nest for a matter of weeks before they’re ready to fly. But for us as humans, growth takes years.

Children spend so much of their lives wanting to do the next thing before they’re quite ready for it. And as parents, we sometimes wish we could slow time down just a little longer.

I think this part of the story quietly reminds both children and parents that growth is happening, even in the waiting.

Speaking Courage Into Children

One of the sweetest spreads in the book is a quiet moment between Mama and Peep in the nest with Papa standing near.

Peep is discouraged and impatient, wondering why he can’t leave yet.

And in that moment, his parents gently remind him who he is.

They speak into his identity and remind him that he was made to fly free.

I think children need that kind of encouragement too.

They need steady voices reminding them that growth is happening, even when they can’t fully see it yet.

That they are capable. That courage often comes slowly. And that trying something new can feel both exciting and a little scary at the same time.

More Than Just Finishing a Book

Something I hope children feel after finishing this story is a sense of hope, a sense of calm reassurance that, in the right timing, they’ll be ready for the things God has placed before them.

And I hope parents feel encouraged, too.

Throughout the story, Mama and Papa Robin are present, patient, and supportive as Peep grows through each stage. I wanted children to see parents as safe encouragers—people who lovingly guide them while they grow stronger little by little.

Books are really only a small part of a much bigger story.

Time really is a four-letter word for love, and every time we slow down long enough to read together, we’re building connection, trust, and memories our children will carry with them for years to come.

My hope is that Made to Fly Free simply becomes one more way for families to slow down, connect, and notice the beautiful growth happening right in front of them.