Written & Illustrated by Roy Havardi

The Girl Who Wanted to Fly

A gentle, magical tale about a little girl with a big dream, a wise owl who lands on her window sill one starry night, and the beautiful power of comforting words shared before sleep.

Coming 24 September 2026
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Front cover of The Girl Who Wanted to Fly: a girl in a white dress running through a golden meadow toward blue birds in the sky Back cover of The Girl Who Wanted to Fly: an owl perched on a branch beneath a full moon, surrounded by stars and glowing butterflies
The Book

A bedtime classic in the making

A timeless tale that steps away from the modern world and embraces pure imagination.

Front cover of The Girl Who Wanted to Fly Back cover: an owl on a branch beneath a full moon and a trail of glowing butterflies

The Girl Who Wanted to Fly

She longed to fly and soar through the sky. Each night she would sit by her window, gazing at the stars, wishing for her dream to come true. Then, one night, a mysterious owl landed on her window sill, and a tender friendship began to bloom.

Could this wise, new, true companion hold the key to making her magical dream a reality?

Dive into this enchanting tale of dreams, friendship, trust and the joy of believing in the impossible. If you're looking for a cozy, rhythmic read-aloud that feels like a classic fairytale from your own childhood, this book was made for your family's bedtime routine. 🦉

✦ Publication date 24 September 2026 Paperback picture book £9.99 ISBN 978-1-78788-780-0 Nightingale Books · Pegasus Publishers
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About Roy

Meet Roy Havardi

Musician, singer-songwriter and storyteller.

Portrait of Roy Havardi smiling in a flat cap, trees and sunlight behind him

Roy Havardi is a talented musician and singer-songwriter whose passion for storytelling extends beyond melodies and lyrics. His background in music gives him a deep understanding of rhythm, mood and the power of words, skills that shine through on every page of his writing.

Through his storytelling and his characters, Roy aims to connect with his readers on a personal level. His stories explore dreams, emotions, imagination, kindness, true friendship and life experiences.

"Through my writing, I hope to inspire a deeper connection, to oneself and to the world."

An accomplished guitarist, songwriter and composer, Roy has spent years inspiring others through music and helping his students discover their own potential. Now, with pen and paintbrush, he brings that same warmth to young readers and the grown-ups who read to them.

Pnina Havardi with her arm around her brother Roy Havardi, standing outside a stone taverna with a treble-clef sign
Pnina & Roy Havardi
When Roy first read it to me, I heard our whole childhood in it: Mum and Dad's belief, his music, his heart. From the very first page I knew: this story deserves to fly.
— Pnina Havardi, Roy's Sister
The Story Behind the Story

A dream kept safe in a drawer

Some words from Roy's sister.

Some stories wait years to find their moment…

This is Roy Havardi. Roy wrote The Girl Who Wanted to Fly about two decades ago. He carefully wrote the story by hand, then tucked the pages away in a drawer, where they remained for decades.

Life moved on.

As a young boy, Roy dreamed of becoming a guitarist. Our mum and dad bought him his very first guitar, and I still remember sitting and watching him spend hours teaching himself to play. They believed in his dream long before anyone else did.

Today, Roy is an accomplished guitarist, songwriter and composer who has spent years inspiring others through music and helping his students discover their own potential.

Then, many years later, after our parents had passed away, something unexpected happened. Roy found those handwritten pages again. It looks like Mum and Dad had kept them safe all those years.

He read the story to me, and from the very first page I knew: "This book deserves to be shared."

So together, we began this journey. Today, that dream has become a real book.

✨ The Girl Who Wanted to Fly is ready for all to enjoy, and I have a feeling Mum and Dad would be incredibly proud.

A little girl with a long braid and a white bow, a fluffy toy owl perched on her shoulder, gazing at the garden The girl's illustration is inspired by Roy's 6 year old niece, Mia.
Little Dreamers

For every child who gazes at the stars

All over the world, little dreamers are welcoming the girl and her owl into their bedtime routine, with their own wise companions perched close by, listening to every word.

"Each night, she would sit by her window, gazing at the stars, wishing for her dream to come true…"

Read aloud, snuggle up, and let the story's gentle rhythm carry your little one softly toward sleep, and toward their own big dreams.

Start Your Bedtime Adventure
Roy Havardi holding The Girl Who Wanted to Fly in a children's bookshop, shelves of picture books behind him
Out in the World

From a drawer to the bookshop shelf

Twenty years after those pages were first written by hand, The Girl Who Wanted to Fly is on its way, arriving in bookshops and online on 24 September 2026, ready to be discovered by dreamers everywhere.

Pre-orders are open now, and you can join the reading circle below to hear the moment it takes flight.

Planning story time already? Roy would love to hear from schools, bookshops and families who'd like to welcome the girl and her owl into their bedtime routine. Early messages mean the world to independent authors.

Stay in Touch

Be first to know when it takes flight

The Girl Who Wanted to Fly arrives on 24 September 2026. pre-order your copy here. Join Roy's reading circle and you'll hear the moment it launches, plus news of events, readings and a little starlight in your inbox now and then.

For events, school visits and press: roy.havardi@thegirlwhowantedtofly.com