Made to Fly Free
For ages 3-8 – A gentle picture book about waiting, growing, and becoming who you were made to be.
A nature-inspired story reminding children that growing takes time and first tries take courage.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner
From the nest above, Little Peep watches the world below.
Children swing back and forth, rising and falling.
To Little Peep, it looks a lot like like flying.
But Little Peep is still nest bound. His wings are growing, and flight feathers take time.
Made to Fly Free follows a young robin as he watches, wonders, grows, and practices the skills he’ll need before leaving the nest. A quiet story about longing, patience, and trusting the right time to fly.
The Heart of the Story
Made to Fly Free reminds children, and the adults reading beside them, that growth takes time.
Through rhythmic, lyrical storytelling, young readers follow Little Peep as he watches, waits, grows, and practices before taking his first flight. Soft, expressive illustrations invite children to linger, observe closely, and return to the story again and again.
A Peek Inside the Story
Soft, expressive illustrations bring Little Peep’s world to life.
A Gold Award-Winning Story
Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award · 5-Star Review
A warm emotional center without turning the lesson about patience and courage into a lecture.
Schmidgall’s writing has a lively read-aloud rhythm.
The illustrations carry much of the humor, suspense, and sense of movement.
Designed for Slow, Meaningful Read-Alouds
Best enjoyed with children ages 3–8.This story is especially suited for families who value slowing down, noticing the beauty of creation, and letting stories spark thoughtful conversation.
Families enjoy using Made to Fly Free for:
Read-Aloud Time
Perfect for slow evenings and quiet family moments.
Nature Study
Invites children to notice birds, nests, and the rhythms of creation.
Meaningful Discussion
Encourages gentle conversations about patience and growth.
A Keepsake Hardcover Edition
Created for years of bedtime stories and family read-alouds, the hardcover edition of Made to Fly Free features a soft matte cover and beautifully thick pages designed to be enjoyed again and again.
