Jess McGeachin is a writer/illustrator/designer based in Melbourne. He loves telling stories about hidden worlds just outside our own, and hiding clues in them for small eyes to find. Drawing on a love of natural history (and a day job at Melbourne Museum) Jess hopes that his stories inspire the reader to explore both real and imaginary places and meet the characters that live in them. Visit him online at jessmcgeachin.com and drawthemoon.com.

POWERHOUSE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: An exciting new talent! Jess pairs sweet and sympathetic text with soft yet colorful illustrations in a style reminiscent of Oliver Jeffers.CONVERSATION STARTER: Lucy's journey throughout the story serves as a jumping-off point for conversations about loss with parents, teachers, librarians, and therapists focusing on bibliotherapy.FATHER/DAUGHTER STORY: A warmhearted story about a single father and his daughter-a family dynamic not often depicted in the children's book world, but necessary all the same. Perfect for Father's Day promotions!GENTLE STEM HOOK: Lucy is great at fixing things, especially technology. This book serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of girls in STEM, featuring a strong central girl character who is both caring and cleverly inventive.BONUS FIELD GUIDE! Backmatter includes a field guide naming the birds featured throughout the book as well as information on what to do if you find an injured bird.

*"A gentle, effective presentation of grieving and moving on." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
A beautiful father-daughter story celebrating love, loss, and healing, and one bird's broken wing that may prove impossible to fix.

Lucy has always been good at fixing things--the wonky mailbox, broken watches, even Dad's old binoculars. And Lucy is happy to help her dad; they share a special bond. It's just the two of them, after all. So when Lucy finds a tiny bird with a broken wing, she's sure she can fix him too--but not everything that's broken can be fixed.

A tender and loving story about loss, healing, and the special connection between fathers and daughters.
 
Praise for When We Fly:
 
"The core of author-illustrator McGeachin s poignant, fantastical tale is grounded in sobering reality, as Lucy s father helps her come to terms with the knowledge that not everything is fixable, but he also teaches her that moving forward is possible with the support of loved ones."--Publishers Weekly