Bravery and Selflessness Save the Day in This Magical Read

A Pegasus Gets His Wings by Jennifer Kochis

Have you ever wondered how a Pegasus gets its wings?

That’s exactly what one young Pegasus wonders as he looks around at his friends and family with their beautiful, feathered wings. Because while this young Pegasus has the flowing mane and shiny coat of his peers, his own wings are nowhere to be found.

It’s with this compelling premise that Jennifer Kochis keeps readers captivated throughout A Pegasus Gets His Wings, illustrated by Celeste Kochis. This poignant children’s story sparks this burning question in readers’ minds and invites them into the magical Realm of the Pegasus to find the answer for themselves, just as Young Pegasus searches for the truth — and comes across something he never could have expected.

An Unexpected Journey

Welcome to the Realm of the Pegasus, separated from the human world by an invisible barrier. Though transparent, the barrier is strong as steel — until one day when, while wondering when he would ever get his wings, Young Pegasus spots a young human girl in danger and doesn’t hesitate to help. He leaps through the barrier, transforming into an Earth Horse.

Aghast, Mother Pegasus calls upon the Shepherd, who watches over the Pegasus Realm, for help. He assures her that this is not unusual; many Pegasi cross the barrier to help a human in need. “Young Pegasus will come back here,” he reassures her, “just like YOU have returned home after every time that you have been called to help a human.”

As events in the Human Realm play out before them, the Shepherd explains: while Pegasi may think they are simply having very vivid dreams, they are in fact down in the Human Realm, on a mission to help humans. Meanwhile, Young Pegasus grows old alongside his human companion, enjoying a lifetime of riding and adventures. It is only once he lays down in a soft field for the last time that he returns to the Realm of the Pegasus — back to his former self, but now with the beautiful pair of wings that he has now earned!

The Spirit of a Pegasus

Through its fantastical storytelling, A Pegasus Gets His Wings manages to discuss several very real challenges for young children. The first is the cycle of life itself, and whether anything comes after it. Though we might consider this a very grown-up question and hesitate to discuss it with children, the topic of mortality and life after death is one that many kids wrestle with. By introducing the concept of a realm after death, this book provides a possible answer and source of comfort for young readers.

Lastly, in addition to this more philosophical discussion, A Pegasus Gets His Wings also features the prevalent theme of helping others. The entire reason that Young Pegasus is granted his wings is because of the bravery and selflessness he shows when he helps a human in need. Through his example, young readers can emulate this behavior by helping their peers. While we may not be granted wings as a result of our actions, all of us have the potential within ourselves to act in the manner of Young Pegasus and bring a little more kindness to the world.

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