The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Fifty-four

Not long ago I was driving past a field full of cows here in Ashland when I saw that there was a peacock sitting in a tree above the heads of the browsing cows. I was so startled by this rather peculiar sight that I almost drove into a ditch. I could not for the life of me figure out why there was a peacock in a cow field in southern Oregon. Where did it come from? I was therefore delighted to receive a review copy of today's picture book, which is about a peacock that causes quite a stir on a farm.

Three Hens and a Peacock

Lester L. Laminack

Illustrated by Henry Cole

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Peachtree Publishers, 2011, 1-56145-564-4

   Life on the Tucker farm is peaceful and “nothing unusual” happens there. The cows chew their cud, the hens cluck, peck, and lay eggs, and the old hound snoozes on the porch. Peace and quiet reigns. Until the day when a box falls out of a van, and peacock steps out of the box. The animals on the farm behave the way their normally do, but the peacock – who has never lived on a farm – starts to shriek.

   The peacock stands by the side of the road shrieking and showing off his spectacular tail feathers, and people who are driving by stop to take a look at the bird. They get out of their cars, take photos of the peacock, and buy corn, tomatoes, and eggs from the Tuckers. The peacock loves the attention, and the Tuckers are very happy because business is “booming.” However, the hens on the farm are furious. They are livid that they are doing all the work and the peacock “gets all the attention.” With angry hens complaining, and a miserable peacock moping around, the atmosphere on the farm is most uncomfortable. What is to be done about this situation?

   Readers of all ages are sure to be entertained when they read this delightful picture book. Not only is it very amusing, but it also looks at something that we are all, on occasion, are guilty of doing - wishing we were in someone else’s shoes. In this case, the chickens wish they were in the peacocks…er…feet, and vice versa. Sometimes being who and what you are is actually the best thing to be.