Lalis Feather

Lali’s Feather
Written by Farhana Zia
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Lali finds a little feather in the field. Whose feather is it? Is it lost? Lali sets out to find 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. So Lali decides to keep the feather and show all the birds everything the little feather can do. The feather can write a note, sweep the floor, and so much more! Once Lali discovers how useful feather can be, the other birds begin to recognize its value.

Author Farhana Zia employs an inventive circular structure in this charming tale that reveals the rewards in looking closely and thinking imaginatively, and Stephanie Fizer Coleman brings this delightful story of imagination and inspiration to life with her colorful illustrations. Little readers will enjoy reading this endearing story of identification and values and learning to understand the importance of looking beyond first impressions.

Hear from author Farhana Zia and learn more about her inspiration for this sweet story in this Q&A.

Explore the beautiful nature and culture in the book further with this free, downloadable teacher’s guide.

“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

“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

“Buoyant…a prime candidate for reading aloud.” —Publishers Weekly

Find Lali’s Feather floating onto a bookshelf near you, available today at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be on the lookout for the rest of our brand-new Spring 2020 titles as well as our picture books and middle grade titles back at Peachtree this season in paperback!