Flora and the Peacocks

Starred review from May 2, 2016
Flora dances on in her elegant third picture book, following the Caldecott Honor–winning Flora and the Flamingo and its sequel, Flora and the Penguin. Working in a green-and-turquoise color scheme, Idle wordlessly traces Flora’s encounter with two peacocks, whose outstretched tails echo the semicircular shape of the fan Flora holds as she dances. One peacock takes to Flora and the other feels left out; glued-in flaps help move the story forward while amplifying the emotional tug-of-war. One broken fan later, a massive foldout brings the story to a moving finale in which kindness and compromise win the day. Ages 3–5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

Starred review from March 15, 2016
While Idle's previous titles (Flora and the Flamingo, 2013, etc.) feature her young, white dancer with a single avian partner, this story presents a pas de trois. The challenge, therefore, is how to manage balance: on the stage, across a double-page spread, among friends. The choreography creates the narrative in this wordless performance, with opportunities for audience participation via flaps. In the opening scene, a fan-wielding Flora poses alone; the peacocks are paired. Wispy willow branches form a proscenium arch atop the extravagant white backdrop. The dancers are arrayed in coordinated teal and green splendor with yellow highlights. When one bird crosses the gutter, a dance ensues on the verso, a drama on the recto. The birds' parallel symmetry is now inverted: the partners reach up, the lone peacock disdainfully displays downward. As Flora plants a foot on each page, readers decide whether to make tails match or contrast. They are also the agents for a tug of war over the fan. Idle's nuanced postures and expressions capture the peacocks' wounded pride perfectly. When the fragile prop breaks in a climactic close-up, the despondent protagonist stalks off the page. The birds find a solution, and a glorious gatefold, measuring 18 by 33 inches, puts a joyful Flora at the center of a dazzling and harmonious display. Design, engineering, and art intersect to deliver a virtuoso interpretation of the pitfalls and pleasures of triads. (Picture book. 3-7)

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Starred review from April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Idle's story introduces a new dance-one of friendship. Flora, holding her Japanese fan, greets two peacocks. However, only one becomes interested by her presence, which inspires jealousy within its comrade. The dance between the characters creates drama that leaves Flora upset. But a graceful end supports the notion that a duo can be a trio, as the peacocks apologize and unite to restore Flora's broken fan. The visual narrative depicts the polarizing emotions that can ensue when it comes to adopting new friends. Although this is a wordless picture book, movable flaps and the more than noticeable facial and body expressions help young readers understand the conflict. Through blues, greens, and yellows, Idle depicts lovely peacocks, and the white backdrop creates a perfect stage for this gentle dance of kinship. The grand finale foldout is a showstopping, if somewhat fragile, element. VERDICT A fun and flashy selection for all collections.-Briana Moore, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Flora's third wordless picture book is, appropriately, about a three-way friendship and the tricky dynamics thereof. This book's rhythm is like Flora and the Flamingo and Flora and the Penguin, but the addition of that third character adds a storytelling layer. Idle again sticks to a limited color palette, here peacock blues, greens, and yellows; the last, glorious flap is a showstopper.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2016
Idle's third wordless picture book starring Flora (Flora and the Flamingo, rev. 7/13; Flora and the Penguin, rev. 11/14) is, appropriately, about a three-way friendship and the tricky dynamics thereof. Flora curtsies hello to a pair of peacocks. One of them seems taken with her -- it crosses the gutter to join her on the left-hand page -- the other, scowling, is not so sure (it remains on the right, tail firmly turned to viewers). When diplomat Flora approaches the scowler, the first peacock becomes jealous. An angry tug-of-war of Flora's decorative fan but also of her affections -- ensues, leading to a broken fan and hurt feelings. Luckily, the peacocks get a clue, and their resplendent show (of tail feathers) cheers everyone right up. The rhythm of this Flora book is like the other two -- girl approaches bird, bird spurns friendship, girl gets upset, bird makes amends, plus there's dancing -- but the addition of that third character adds a storytelling layer. Idle once again sticks to a limited color palette, this time peacock blues, greens, and yellows, with the flowers in Flora's hair a sweet nod to her previous headwear. And if not every flap in the book is as inventive as we've come to expect, that last, glorious one is a showstopper. elissa gershowitz

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-The star of two previous showstoppers, Flora returns in another inventive, deceptively simple title. Here, Flora meets not one but two birds-a pair of peacocks who inspire dancing, drama, and, finally, reconciliation and friendship. Both vibrant and spare, Idle's artwork once again dazzles as it tells a layered story without a single word.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.