Allan Finds His Wings

Try-Again Thursday Read-aloud

Reading Allan Finds His Wings with my Grade 3s was a reminder that dreams aren’t always easy, but they are always worth holding on to. Allan doesn’t give up when things get tough. Instead, he keeps looking for ways to make his dream of flying possible.

That lesson—perseverance, hope, and opportunity—is one we all need.

After the read-aloud, my Grade 3s and I brainstormed the obstacles they sometimes face—things like tricky math problems, learning to spell harder words, feeling shy when speaking in front of others, or even not being able to run as fast as they’d like. Then, just like Allan, they thought about ways to make it work: practicing a little more, asking for help, taking deep breaths, or trying again with a different strategy.

The beauty of this book is that it sparked real reflection in my classroom. It wasn’t just Allan’s story anymore; it became ours. The children could see themselves in Allan’s challenges and were proud to share how they, too, could find their “wings” in everyday life.

This is a story I’ll keep close on my shelf, because it reminds us all teachers and students that obstacles don’t mean stop. They mean keep going, keep trying, and keep believing.