INTRODUCING SAI THE PEACOCK

A peacock gains confidence when a friend believes in him in this debut picture book by a mother-daughter team.

Sai the peacock has a unique voice and a huge beak, both of which are unappreciated by his cohorts. He harbors dreams of performing. But after being made fun of, “Sai decided he’d stay silent and forget about it.” Then he sings to himself at a stream, and Cricket notices and encourages him. With the insect’s help, Sai is soon performing in sold-out shows with cricket audiences, to the amazement of the peacocks, including Sai’s mother. The birds now understand what they’ve missed all along. The ending, in which Sai and Cricket set off on a world tour, signals that a sequel is planned. Estani Frizzell’s poetry is smooth throughout, with solid rhymes and a bouncing rhythm that supports the musical theme. The “Beakonfident” theme of Sai’s tour is a clever pun that independent readers will enjoy. The vibrant watercolor cartoon style of illustrator Sophia Frizzell—the author’s daughter—uses dark shades in her outlines to define the shapes. The simple designs of the peacocks invite young readers to try cartooning. Unfortunately, one of the tale’s few human characters is a light brown–skinned, stereotypical fortuneteller with a headscarf. The presence of humans feels unnecessary in the story. Sai’s large beak also frequently changes size and shape, making his portrayal feel inconsistent throughout.

A strong, rhyming narrative about believing in yourself, with attractive but flawed illustrations.