“THE LITTLE PEA,” by Éric Battut, Sky Pony Press, Sept. 1, 2011, $16.95 (ages 4-8)
There is a garden where a plant full of peas grows. All the little peas look alike and are happy, except for one. He hops out of his pod and wanders away, all the while asking himself what he would like to be.
When the little pea passes a peacock, with a tail as beautiful as a bouquet, he decides he’d like to be the same and ties a feather to his back.
A tiger comes along and scares away the peacock. The little pea decides he wants a tiger’s strength and handsome fur and covers himself with painted-on stripes.
Next comes an elephant with trumpeting nose. The little pea can’t resist and adds a trunk to his ensemble. He is the most unique pea there ever was. The other peas laugh and the little pea admits he is a funny seed, but plants himself nonetheless. Almost a year passes, but when the little pea sprouts into a plant full of little peas, a welcome surprise awaits.
Bright colored characters come to life against a stark white background in Éric Battut’s “The Little Pea.” The illustrations are simple but will speak to little ones, whose attention tends to wander.
The little pea’s eclectic style is not so different than an independent child learning to dress his or herself. This simple story celebrates uniqueness and imagination and the great things that come from both.
