Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl makes a feathered friend in whimsical, wordless outing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A little girl named Flora looks as if she's headed for the pool or beach in her pink one-piece swim suit, yelow bathing cap, and maroon flippers when she comes across a pink flamingo, whose poses she begins to imitate. Their silent communication is suspicious at first, then builds to a friendly rapport and a shared dance, in which their pink bodies (the bird clothed in pink feathers, Flora in a pink swim suit) move in united balletic grace, culminating in an exuberant shared plunge in the water.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fresh, clever, wordless, opposites-attract story in which a stately flamingo teaches a round-bellied little girl to pose and dance, and free-spirited Flora teaches the bird to lighten up. Interactive flaps add layers of emotion and communication to the tale, as the two characters with distinct personalities slowly get to know each other. It's pure fun with a mostly pink-and-white palette of spare comic images set against stark white pages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about wordless stories. How does the author tell the story and move the action along by using only pictures? Have you read other wordless books you like?
How are Flora and the flamingo alike? How are they different?
Have you ever made a new freind at the beach or a pool? What did you do together without talking that helped you get to know the person?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Molly Idle
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Arts , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle Books
- Publication date : March 5, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 6
- Number of pages : 44
- Available on : Hardback, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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