Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Feathers and Fools

By Mary LeCompte, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Literary-quality fable is engaging, effective.

Book Mem Fox Folklore 2000
Feathers and Fools Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

At first there is harmony, but when the peacocks and swans begin to fear one another because of their differences, their peaceful pond turns into a battlefield--with tragic results. When all seems lost, hope arises, in this profound, well-crafted, and stunningly illustrated modern-day fable worthy of comparison to Aesop's tales.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is a timely, powerful fable, but parents should choose their audience wisely; even though most kids will recognize the story's merit, the subject matter may sadden or disturb some. Author Mem Fox makes a point to name the most aggressive peacock "the first-and-most-foolish" and demonstrates in elegant prose how the follies of human nature -- such as prejudice, gossip, and aggression -- can lead to the despair of having to live in fear and, ultimately, face the ravages of war.

The right-hand pages are richly detailed acrylic illustrations with primitive borders, which stand out against a black background. The left-hand text pages are simply illustrated but complement the images on the right.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the moral of this story. What lessons does it try to teach? What could the birds have done differently?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate