Plume

September 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Plume is a cat with a penchant for soft feather pillows. Though readers don't know this until the very end of the book, they get a glimpse of the feline on every page-some little part lurking around or near a bird. But the menace of a predator and its prey is not what will capture children's attention in this title: it's the feathers. At once sturdy and delicate, they look completely different on birds than they do on their own. Simler shows both-a large, labeled illustration of a bird, common and uncommon, and on the facing page, exquisitely detailed drawings of one or more of its feathers. And Plume. First, he is just a shadow that readers might easily miss. Then there's the tail, the whiskers, the tips of his ears appearing on the page, creating tension and a little confusion-what should viewers be looking at? There's relief at the end, when Plume introduces himself and admits to his passion-feathers make a soft spot to dream. Simler's delightful digital drawings begin on the endpapers, making the book as much a beginner's guide to feathers as a story. VERDICT Savor the stunning close-up drawings in this picture book one-on-one. For a nonfiction pairing, match with Melissa Stewart's Feathers, Not Just For Flying.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2017
The double meaning of the title of this French import will likely be lost on young readers who do not know that "plume" means "feather," since "Plume" is the name of the black cat who stalks mysteriously through the pages, clearly with evil designs on the birds portrayed. As with her earlier picture book Blue Hour (2017), Simler portrays her subject matter--birds and their feathers--in finely rendered, realistic detail. However, the birds chosen are not always specifically named, and many species are not found in North America, lessening the book's appeal for readers on this continent. For example, the nuthatch, jay, and kingfisher featured in the book are Eurasian species, so there is little chance of a child in the U.S. finding one of these feathers or being able to identify them. A gull is simply identified as "Seagull," likewise for the highly stylized owl; the "Eagle" is clearly a bald eagle. The attractiveness of the illustrations compensates in large part for these flaws. The black cat's presence is charmingly hinted at in each illustration, sometimes just as an ear, a tail, or a whisker peeking from the edge of the spread, sometimes almost hidden behind the bird. On the last spread, Plume is completely visible, clutching a feather and saying innocently, "Oh...me? / I collect feathers... //...because I love overstuffed pillows. / I am a dreamer cat. / They call me Plume." Lovely, if a bit frustrating. (Picture book. 2-5)

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September 1, 2017
Preschool-G A black cat sneaks its way onto each spread of this lovely look at birds and their unique feathers. A nose here, a bit of tail therethe artfully concealed cat is a clever detail that will keep kids interested in this avian study. Every double-page spread reveals a clean-lined digital rendering of a bird situated against a white backdrop, with its name printed below. They range from the exotic (peacock and flamingo) and commonplace (duck and pigeon) to songbirds (nuthatch and parrotfinch) and poultry (guinea fowl and turkey). The showstoppers, however, are the individual feathers scattered beside each bird. Delicately textured and detailed, these illustrations show the patterns, colors, and beauty present in every plume, and readers will appreciate how no two are alike. The large-scale illustrations make this book well suited for group sharing, though the feathers will warrant a closer look, and the mix of new and familiar birds will keep youngsters engaged. The book concludes with a brief word from the mysterious feline, and feathered endpapers make for a nice final touch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
Dramatic stylized illustrations of birds and their feathers, rendered with crisp lines and fine textures, create a visually stunning catalog. The oversize French import is also a counting book (the number of feathers increases steadily, although irregularly); a seek-and-find (there's part of a black cat hidden on each spread); and a simple story as the end reveals the cat, Plume, has been collecting feathers.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)