There’s a goose on the pond behind our house who never flies. I noticed him early one morning, just after sunrise. The others had taken off in a flurry of wings and sound, but he stayed behind, floating near the reeds. I watched him day after day. He swam. He waddled. He honked. But still, he never flew.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. Maybe he was young. Maybe he was just shy. But as time passed, I began to wonder. That curiosity led to research. The research led to heartbreak. I learned about a condition called “angel wing” caused by feeding birds the wrong foods, like bread and crackers. Suddenly, his stillness made sense.
That one goose stayed with me. He reminded me of so many children I’ve taught over the years. Kind-hearted. Eager. Trying so hard, yet held back by something they didn’t understand. I wanted to tell his story, not with facts or warnings, but with feeling. So I wrote Angel Wings.
It’s a simple book with a quiet message. But I hope it gives children and families a new way to see the animals around them. A way that begins with care and ends with respect. Because sometimes, the smallest story can carry the biggest lesson.
