Lali's Feather - by Farhana Zia

Book Synopsis

A vivacious and endearing story of identification, values, and the rewards in looking closely and thinking imaginatively.

Lali finds a little feather in the field. Who might it belong to? Lali sets out to find the feather a home, but one bird after another rejects it. The feather is too small for Rooster, too slow for Crow, and too plain for Peacock.

That is until Lali decides to keep the little feather and discovers all the things she can do with it, and the other birds begin to recognize its value.

Farhana Zia offers a charming tale with an inventive circular structure that reveals the importance of looking beyond first impressions. Illustrator Stephanie Fizer Coleman brings this delightful story of imagination and inspiration to life.

Review Quotes

"Zia expertly code-switches between Indian language-inspired slang and standard English, rendering the narratorial voice pleasantly distinct. . . . The author's use of the rule of threes. . . strikes a beautifully balanced storyline that is predictable yet surprising. The pictures accompanying the text are full of color and motion, depicting a lush, rural landscape and perfectly supporting the quick-moving protagonist. Three cheers for this feisty girl of color and her big imagination." --Kirkus Reviews

"This circular story has the ring of an Indian folk tale. Its art strikingly contrasts the warm bright colors of silks and spices with the lush turquoise of peacock feathers." --The New York Times

"Buoyant. . . a prime candidate for reading aloud." --Publishers Weekly

"The musicality of the prose, dotted with Hindi expressions, lends a folkloric tone to this whimsical tale. The illustrations are lush and cheerful, countering the idea that the loss of the feather is to be mourned. A surprise ending will have readers predicting the sequel to this just-for-fun story." --Booklist

About the Author

Farhana Zia spent her early years in Hyderabad, India, and her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. A retired elementary school teacher, she is the author of picture books and middle grade novels. She lives in Massachusetts and enjoys reading, writing, and making French macarons.

Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an illustrator and freelance designer. She loves drawing animals and has created the art for many children's books. For her 100 Days project in 2018, she drew one hundred birds, one day at a time. She lives in West Virginia with her husband and dogs.