Molly Idle

Flora places an empty bowl near a hen’s nest filled with eggs. One by one as the eggs hatch, Flora fills the bowl the yellow, orange, and even a brown chick. Expressive illustrations on plain backgrounds and large numbers from 1 to 10 convey the story.  The use of sturdy foldouts increases the delightful surprises as the chicks meet their new friend, Flora.

Flora and an ostrich, both clad in deep lavender, demonstrate opposites such as hello/goodbye, near/far. The expressive illustrations, however, reveal a friendship and humor that goes far beyond the single words on each open page occasionally expanded when a flap is lifted. 

Though Flora has danced with a flamingo (Flora & the Flamingo) and even a penguin (Flora & the Penguin), this is her first dance with 2 handsome peacocks with huge tails.  How they manage their performance and develop a friendship is revealed in lush illustrations, flaps and a huge foldout but no words.

Flora dances on a thick sheet of ice with a penguin companion who appears from a hole in the ice. Humor and movement are enhanced by the gentle depiction of fluid girl and bird body language, and through the unique perspectives shown. Glued-in flaps and fold-outs add another dimension and a bit of surprise.