Review: How Lumi Learned to Fly by David Michael

Title: How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself
Author: David Michael
Illustratior: Raees Asma
Publication: August 24, 2026
Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Self-Esteem/Personal Growth
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon BE
Rating: 4/5★

How Lumi Learned to Fly

Lumi has always dreamed of flying.

But when the time comes to spread her wings, Lumi discovers that learning to fly isn’t as easy as she imagined. With a little courage, determination, and encouragement from those who believe in her, Lumi begins to discover that sometimes the hardest part of reaching your dreams is simply believing you can.

Join Lumi on a sweet and inspiring adventure as she learns to face her fears, keep trying when things don’t go as planned, and discover the confidence that was inside her all along.

How Lumi Learned to Fly is a heartwarming story about courage, perseverance, self-confidence, and believing in yourself. Young readers will love following Lumi’s journey as she learns that mistakes and challenges are simply part of growing and learning.

A wonderful read for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for a gentle story that encourages children to:

• Believe in themselves
• Try again when something feels difficult
• Face new challenges with courage
• Learn from mistakes
• Discover their own unique strengths

Sometimes, you don't need to know how to fly before you spread your wings. You just need to be brave enough to try.

Let Lumi show you that anything is possible when you believe in yourself!

"It wasn't fear anymore—it was something lighter. Something brave."

How Lumi Learned to Fly is a short, sweet and heartwarming story about believing in yourself and never giving up. I almost never read children’s books like this one but I ended up enjoying it nontheless, especially because of its lovely message.

I also really loved the beautiful illustrations (made by Raees Asmar), which brought the story to life. Lumi is such a cute butterfly! I’m more than sure that small kids will be drawn to pictures as well. I can totally see this book finding a beloved spot in libraries alongside other books about animals, self-esteem and growing and learning.

Overall, How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself by David Michael is a sweet and inspiring story that leaves young readers with a wonderful reminder to believe in themselves.

About the author:

David Michael, the pen name of Mike Dreyfuss, is a pediatric occupational therapist with more than 10 years of experience helping children with special needs build confidence, independence, and essential life skills. Inspired by the children and families he works with each day, he began writing children’s books that encourage important virtues such as courage, patience, kindness, and perseverance. Through heartfelt stories and memorable characters, David hopes to inspire every child—especially those who struggle with self-confidence—to believe in themselves, face their fears, and discover the strength they already have inside.

David lives in Texas with his wife and their two young children, who continue to inspire his stories and remind him of the magic found in everyday moments. Amazon | Facebook | Instagram

 

Book Blitz: Reign of Silver & Stardust by Diana A. Hicks

Welcome to the book blitz of Reign of Silver & Stardust by Diana A. Hicks. Check out the excerpt and enter the giveaway below to win a Reign of Silver & Stardust PR box (paperback plus swag).
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Reign of Silver & Stardust by Diana A. Hicks
(Stardust Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: August 27th 2026
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

My twin sister was murdered. To find her killer, I had to die.

CATALINA
I was never supposed to exist.
As the mortal spare to an immortal sister, I lived in the shadows
until Ry was murdered by a weapon that shouldn’t exist.
Now, justice is all I want.
To find her killer, I must take her place in the Queen’s Elite Cadre
and become the very monster everyone fears.
But becoming a weapon means losing my humanity…
and losing the one man I can’t resist.

VALOREK
The immortals bleed my world dry while my sister rots from the inside out.
I swore to burn their reign to the ground,
until I met her.
Sterling is the enemy,
a silver-blooded soldier of the regime that destroyed my family.
But the electricity between us is undeniable.
We are on opposite sides of a brewing war,
and falling for the enemy is a dangerous mistake
neither of us can afford.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

The simulation brings me back with a jolt. I land on the floor on all fours, choking on the saltwater burning my throat. Like before, once my brain catches up with reality, all the pain goes away. I hang my head and breathe easy.

If that isn’t a miserable attempt, I don’t know what is. Ry passed this level on her first try. This military stuff came naturally to her. When we were kids, the placement test put Ry and me in the Military Sector, but I never belonged or excelled the way she did.

The sleek white walls shine bright around me. Seconds later, Captain Weston’s boots come into view. When I glance up, he cocks an eyebrow at me with both hands braced on his hips. He blows out a breath, and I swear a tinge of pity flashes across his face.

“I didn’t pass your test.” I sit back on my ankles, shaking uncontrollably.

“Everyone dies in the simulation. You did better than I expected.” He scratches the stubble on his chiseled jaw. “But I do have my work cut out for me.”

“Am I in?” I meet his gaze.

“Have you talked to anyone since the accident?”

The accident? My jaw clenches.

“No.” I assume he means cadets from my unit. To Captain Weston, Valorek and his friends didn’t count.

“Good.” He clears his throat. “Because I have a proposal for you.”

When I open my mouth to speak, he brings his index finger to his lips and shakes his head once. Of course, he doesn’t want to hear about how Ry’s death wasn’t an accident. We have been doing the same song and dance for weeks. This time, I do as he asks and keep quiet, but only because it looks like I am about to get what I want—an opportunity to join the Queen’s immortal army, where I’ll have the ability to look into Ry’s murderer myself.

“You need something from me.” I meet his gaze.

“We need you to take your sister’s place as a lieutenant in the Queen’s army. You still need a lot of training before you can join Ry’s unit, but we have a bit of time.”

“Wait. What?” I gape at him as my heart thrashes in my ears. “That is not what I wanted at all.”

“I gave it some thought.” He swallows. “It’s all I can offer. It’s the only solution, really.”

“Do you have any idea how insane this sounds?” I scoff. “Ry told me everything about the QEC simulator seven years ago. This was the easy part and I still died. How am I supposed to be her when I know nothing about her world? She had her own life outside of me.”

“That’s why I’m here. I’ll be your guide.” His eyes soften.

“So what, Captain Weston? Do I now get to call you Cap or Eli?”

“You can call me whatever you want.” He offers a crooked, sexy smile. “In fact, I think that if you call me Eli in private, the transition will be easier for you.”

“Eli?” I meant to be sarcastic, but he is completely serious with his answer.

Author Bio:

Diana Hicks writes dark, emotional romance where obsession runs deep, secrets cut sharp, and love always comes at a price.

Her books blend steamy billionaire drama with forbidden marriages, high-stakes betrayal, and antiheroes who will burn the world to protect what’s theirs. Best known for The Empire Trilogy, Diana’s stories deliver heart-pounding romance with morally gray men, strong heroines, and just enough heat to leave you breathless.

When she’s not writing about power and passion colliding, she’s probably sipping coffee like it's a love language, sweating off a plot twist at yoga, or posting angsty book teasers on TikTok.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!

Reign of Silver & Stardust Blitz

Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read.
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A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas
Expected publication: October 27, 2026 by Bloomsbury Publishing

What was broken will be remade.

Deep in the heart of the continent, Koschei the Deathless is stirring. Though he's been bound to a mountain lake for millennia, the insidious threat of his return now spreads across the Fae territories, attracting powerful allies hell-bent on reclaiming what was once theirs: the human lands.

The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked. But with Prythian still piecing itself together in the wake of the devastating Hybern War, the task of uniting is proving more difficult by the day.

To make matters worse, those who rule and protect the Night Court are reeling from recent betrayals and revealed truths. The rifts dividing them seem insurmountable.

But to defeat Koschei's creeping shadow, they must find a way back to each other and resurrect their former alliances. To survive, they must find a way to repair the splintered harmony all around them.

I think it's needless to say that I'm really looking forward to this book (also equally scared). And I can't believe the previous book was released back in 2021. It's been a hot minute!

What book are you awaiting today?