Leave It to Plum!
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
“An instant hit.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A splendid hullabaloo at the zoo.”—Booklist
A Texas Bluebonnet Book
When a small mammal with an oversized ego tries to take over the zoo, just leave it to the big-hearted peacock Plum to save the day! From award-winning author Matt Phelan, Leave It to Plum! is a highly illustrated young middle grade novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere.
Every day the peacocks are allowed to wander freely among Athensville Zoo’s visitors, delighting and guiding kids and grown-ups alike. The peacocks are very proud of their responsibility; none so much as kind, curious Plum.
But Itch the ningbing—a type of very small marsupial—doesn’t understand why those birdbrains should get so much freedom while he’s all cooped up. So he plots and plots, sure that he will escape and become the zoo ambassador!
Each book in the Leave It to Plum series features:
Lively black-and-white illustrations by the author on almost every page.Short, humorous chapters ideal for reading aloud and for reluctant readers.Social and emotional learning competencies appropriate for young middle grade readers.Engaging high-interest, low reading level stories to develop literacy skills and nurture a love of reading.
Leave It to Plum! is the first book in a 5-book series about a young peacock with a big heart and the busy zoo he lives in. Just right for newly independent readers, these fun and funny adventures tackle relatable emotional themes such as cooperation and being a good friend. Perfect for fans of the Princess in Black and the Mercy Watson series.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A bighearted peacock with boundless cheer stars in this lively zoo caper by Phelan (Knights vs. Dinosaurs). Free-range peacocks have long been official guest ambassadors at the Athensville Zoo, seeking to "Mingle! Guide! Delight!" But not everyone is happy about the arrangement, especially not a dour, power-hungry marsupial called Itch, a ningbing with an inflated sense of his own smarts. Fed up with being caged while others roam free, Itch plots to frame the pea-fowl for a manufactured crime spree with the help of some wily, sticky-fingered squirrels. When the plan results in entrapment, a "peppy, purple peacock" named Plum plays detective to gain their release, and in the process, his sleuthing sees him standing up to bullies and growing in social awareness. Luckily, the congenial protagonist is also able to draw on the help of new friends, including a lonely street cat and an introverted new zookeeper, and by book's end, everyone is better off than they were at the start, including the series starter's villain. With occasional grayscale art presented alongside amusingly self-important, cinematically rendered characters, Phelan offers winning animalian antics for chapter book beginners. Ages 8–12.
