Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Three Hens and a Peacock
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Peachtree Publishers, 2011 ISBN: 1561455644
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.
