In the story, Goldy loses a wing and sets off on a journey to find it, believing that helping others might restore what she's lost. Along the way, she encounters three creatures in distress.

Here, the story presents three perilous challenges for Goldy: an ibis with a net tightly wrapped around its beak, a wombat trapped in a dark log, and a cricket ensnared in a spider's web.

Each of these scenarios symbolises real struggles children may face: feeling silenced and discouraged from expressing themselves; being overwhelmed by problems that seem impossible to escape; or feeling bullied and caught in despair.

Annie crafted these allegorical moments with the hope that they might help children open up to their grown-ups"and begin to "untrap" their feelings through conversation.

'This is what I say to my kids,' says Annie. '"Feelings are like farts. You have to let them out, otherwise you will get a tummy ache."' 'I admit, it is not the most graceful  analogy, but at least it made them laugh and I got my point across.'

'Now that Finch has done three acts of kindness, she was excited about her wing's progress. 

But in the lake's reflection, all she could see was a bare patch where the new wing should be.' The Finch Who Lost Her Wing.

Since launching her book into the world, Annie's been asked many times, "How did Goldy lose one wing?"

'For me, the wing represents Goldy's confidence or self-esteem. She thought she could find it by looking outwards or helping others. But I think that true confidence lies within self-love,' she says.

The story reminds us how important it is to speak kindly to yourself. Something Annie says, she herself has been guilty of not doing.

'I lost myself"or perhaps was lost"for many seasons. I felt defined by the labels we wear: career woman, mother, wife. But who was I without them? Did these roles determine my worth? I've always had a tendency to be self-critical, to judge myself harshly. I suppose there's a bit of Goldy Finch in me. Writing this book helped me rediscover my voice.' says Annie

'Finch felt so sad, her eyes began to tear: "I'm not good enough, I'm nowhere near.  

I did what I was told, but I'm so useless. I don't deserve what is good and joyous!" ' 

The Finch Who Lost Her Wing 

'Now, after her own journey of healing and growth, Annie is ready to share the message of self-love - not only with her daughters, but with other children, and even the parents who read alongside them.

'I find myself speaking to my kids in an encouraging way that I find hard for myself. Or after a long day, I default back to my old programming and then I get 'mother's guilt'. Parenting has been a phase of re-learning me,' Annie says.

As a volunteer teacher in the NSW Primary Ethics program, Annie firmly believes children are born with self-love. It's up to us  to protect and nurture that spark, not let it fade as they grow.

In the story of The Finch Who Lost Her Wing the message of self-love is as clear and simple to them as the sky is blue.