SYLVIE

“You are what you eat” is more than just a saying for Sylvie the flamingo. Dissatisfied with the sameness of her family when contrasted with the rest of the world, she asks her Mama why flamingos are all pink. The answer—“the little shrimp we eat are pink”—leads her to seek more colorful things to eat, with hilarious results. In the end, though, an aching belly and a feeling that she just wasn’t herself send her back to a diet of shrimp, but not without her own Sylvie-esque twist. Sylvie is one endearing flamingo, sure to capture readers’ hearts with her exuberant style. The artwork masterfully captures each of Sylvie’s emotions in both facial expression and body language. The bright colors match the beach setting, while plain backgrounds and simple details make this accessible for younger children. Sattler’s message is delivered effectively without being preachy. David Shannon’s A Bad Case of Stripes (1998) for the younger set, this will be a hit in just about every setting. (Picture book. 3-7)