Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox (1-May-2000) Paperback

by Mem Fox

Long ago and far away, in a rambling garden beside a clear blue lake, two flocks of birds began to fear each other because of their differences. The fear grew, and soon the birds became enemies, hoarding great quantities of weapons to protect themselves--until panic struck and the chance for peace seemed lost forever.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, War, Animals, Fiction, Art, Friendship

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Merrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit I feel uncomfortable reviewing this after reading about how much everyone loves this book -- am I missing something? I am the librarian for a PK-5 elementary school, and I came across this book the other day (I am a new librarian there). My habit is to randomly flip open the book, read a few lines, and then flip to the beginning. The first few lines I read from this book were about how blood rained down the sky, and it struck me as oddly and particularly violent. Now, please don't get me wrong -- I understand violence is a reality and our children are exposed to violence. This book is an attempt to explain war and violence.[return][return]However.[return][return]I thought perhaps it was too abstract and allegorical for younger children. If I read it to the high school children I used to teach and we discussed the allegory and metaphors for war and peace, that would be much more appropriate. Even then, I thought the writing just tried too hard to be poetic, and missed the mark -- it felt trite. The ending is too abrupt and contrived. As far as appropriateness is concerned, I feel it may be all in how the book is used. Your opinion may vary. But I was not a fan of this book for young elementary children, even though it is marketed towards young children (and hence my low star rating). I will, however, consider recommending it to high school teachers as a paired reading for longer works dealing with war and violence.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. A poignant, effective way to expose the foolishness of certain ideas, particularly homophobia and other brands of intolerance.

This allegorical parable is even simpler and more profound than The Butter Battle Book (which requires knowledge of the Cold War, 8th grade Social Studies content, to truly understand the allegory). It's perfect for middle school-aged and high school students to have a discussion about the folly of war over differences.

[Valérie Bleue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un livre à mettre entre toutes les mains! J'aimerais distribuer un exemplaire dans chacune des maisons/familles au Québec!

Élément déclencheur pour une belle discussion en classe dès le 2e cycle du primaire (je l'ai testé avec des 5e année et c'était excellent!!!).

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep. Basically a story about prejudice and how, in the end, we're more alike than anything. For older kids.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to read the negative comments so feel compelled to offer some insight.
Even though I am now an adult, I read this book initially when I was ~4 years old (1997). I found it mesmerizing. It offered an explanation to why wars occur. Children at such an age are still aware wars occur. This is not new information. It's on the television, radio, newspapers; we are confronted with this reality our entire lives. So reading stories with them on this topic is not as 'adult' as these comments would lead one to believe. Furthermore, it offered an alternative to war too. The tone of this book stayed with me throughout my childhood and life, and I thank you Mem Fox for creating such a poignant work of art capable of stirring such everlasting morality and empathy.
This book is nothing short of perfect.
It is not your typical light-hearted tale, no, but it is both powerful and important.

[Joyce Yattoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to start Monday's classes with a picture book read aloud because most students love them. This is a picture book for mature readers and showcases what can happen when people don't respect one another's differences. The characters are swans and the peacocks who feel threatened by one another because of one flippant comment that got out of control. The birds end up going to war and they are all killed. Fortunately, the innocence of the newly born offspring survive the war and life can start anew. A great example of the literary device - allegory. Illustrations are just beautiful.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly poignant picture book about one of our deepest flaws, and our ability to overcome it. The brevity of the story cuts right to the heart of the matter and the soul. Recommended to both young and old.

[Yan Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

我借这本书时纯粹是被它漂亮的画面所吸引，我对美术懂得很少，但感觉画家是用水粉加版画风格画的，在黑色的背景上用大色块铺上强烈的艳丽颜色。颜料并不是均匀涂满的，中间留有一些空缺，颜料干后的还产生一些细小的纹路，最后画家还用类似像梳子一样的工具在颜料上面添加一些线条，这些都给画面增添了更多的质感和层次。每一幅中左页配合文字用比较明亮和大幅的颜色，配以一些小画；右页则是主要故事场景。白色勾画出的羽毛和花枝在深色的页面上尤为显得轻柔。每幅页面都很漂亮，值得仔细欣赏。

而它讲述的故事一点也不简单。花园里住着一群孔雀，附近的湖里住着一群天鹅。有一天，一只孔雀开始傲慢地嘲笑天鹅，说还好我们不需要像天鹅那样飞翔和游泳，否则多么可笑，其它孔雀都深表赞同。后来，那只孔雀又想到说，如果某一天花园被天鹅占据，并逼迫孔雀也跟它们一样飞翔和游泳怎么办。所有的孔雀都深表担忧，于是它们偷偷准备武器，以防备天鹅的攻击，并有意让天鹅知道，说他们已经准备好了足够的武器，完全不害怕天鹅的攻击。天鹅听到了，于是也开始偷偷准备武器。在不信任和猜测中，天鹅和孔雀感到越来越恐惧，它们紧张得连晚上都睡不着。终于，因为一个小小的错误判断，战争爆发了，“Soon cries filled the air and bood darkened the earth.”这张页面中没有出现任何天鹅和孔雀的争斗，只是在左页用全幅红色作为背景，白色的羽毛（箭）像雨点一样密密落下，右页的中间只有一轮暗红色的太阳，以及徐徐飘下的几根羽毛，以此来描绘战斗的惨烈。后来，所有的天鹅和孔雀都没能活下来，花园和湖泊一片寂静。这一页是全书唯一没有红色元素的画面，只用了白色、黄色和绿色展现一片宁静，以及平静中孕育的新的希望。最后，一只小孔雀和一只小天鹅从留下的蛋里出来并相遇，发现彼此有更多相似的地方，并成为了朋友。“So off they went together, in peace and unafraid, to face the day and share the world.”

[Meg McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a middle school teacher for thirty years, and always read this story, at least once per semester! The story is riveting and the illustrations are absolutely amazing!!

This is a fable highlighting the ways the swans and the peacocks grew paranoid of each other, feared each other, and ultimately caused a cataclysmic destruction of both species.

It was only a baby peacock and baby swan that survived the holocaust.

This is the most poignant passage to me.

"But the swans, seeing them (the peacocks) coming, made ready. Soon cries filled the air and blood darkened the earth. A cloud of feathers rose into the sky and haunted the sun."

With the ongoing conflict between the US and North Korea, this story is as relevant today as when it was first published!!!

[Savannah Moffett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feathers and Fools depicts what it is like to be fearful of something that you do not know. The Peacocks focused on the differences between them and the swans and used this to become fearful of them. The swans hear about the protection the peacocks have and decide to make weapons to protect themselves. This book is a basic example of ignorance is harmful. The birds didn't try to understand one another and only looked at the outward differences between the two instead of seeing them for who they are, birds. Mem Fox did a great job of using a simple analogy to show that no matter what people look like or what they can do that you can't does not change the fact that they are human as well.

[Bookewyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple cautionary tale that everyone should read, children, young adults, adults. It is a little dark, but most are--that's where the wisdom is. There are valuable lessons from this story. Don't listen to what everyone else says, don't follow the crowd--see for yourself! Instead of fearing what you don't understand, be mindful and learn. Read this book, and then think about it for a minute. Can this same story not be traced throughout the ages of mankind?

[Alana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well THAT was unexpectedly dark. I get the idea, of course, and the ending is a lovely idea, but it was a very violent way to get there, much more than I would have expected from a picture book. I think it might have been better suited to a bit older audience. I mean, I know it's written for children older than my 7-month-old, but it's a bit dark for an older young child as well. But that's just me, others might find it more age-appropriate.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could see where this story was going immediately but I knew it would be an important lesson for kiddo. Unfortunately, I had to keep pausing in my reading of it and explaining what was going on, because kiddo had trouble making sense of the words and their arrangement (perhaps this is not for kindergarteners?). But we both liked the story. We had a long discussion afterwards about why it's better to make friends than to fear people.

[Liaken · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up for the art, not knowing anything about it until I was reading it to my nieces. Imagine my surprise when everyone is dead from fear-based killing at the end with the exception of two eggs that hatch, one from each side. The allegory felt both extreme and preachy--and not at all appropriate for children.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought up a lot of good questions, which I appreciate, but it wasn't my favorite Mem Fox book so far. The idea of always thinking of fighting making someone more afraid and/or eager to fight is a good point but I'm not sure it came across in the best way...but again, that's why I was reading it aloud - to have the conversations!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long ago and far away, in a rambling garden beside a clear blue lake, two flocks of birds began to fear each other because of their differences. The fear grew, and soon the birds became enemies, hoarding great quantities of weapons to protect themselves--until panic struck and the chance for peace seemed lost forever.

[Rebecca Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was new to me and I was very surprised by the deep message it contained about judging and fearing those who do not look like us. So many conversations could be started from this dark fable, and ones that are very necessary in today’s society.

[Jennifer Worrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps its my cynical nature but this story seems to suggest that if humans were gone, the world would be free of one giant pain in the ass, providing a much-needed do-over. Meh—I can't disagree, if that's the case. What can I say; I loves me a dark book.

[Vidushi Chaudhry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serious picture book about the consequences of not talking to each other. For older readers, an excellent resource for discussion on war, peace, intolerance and stereotypes.

[Samantha Hanhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless story about fearing things you do not understand.

[Kathy Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent picture book for discussion about conflict, ways to view differences, and war.

[Breanna.Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

can you sand this to.

[Luella Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wise tale.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The peacocks and swans are terrified of one another. In this parable about the dangers of reacting without information, there is devastation followed by a glimmer of hope. Lovely story-telling.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good legend and fun to read.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It turns out a wonderful book to talk about themes like war, jealousy, temptation. I used it in my Read-aloud activity ELA class and used it to teach Transforming thinking reading skill.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story to introduce younger children to war. Very in the moment with the war in Ukraine going on... I love Mem Fox.

[Braiden Bowshier · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a good picture book but i have favorites still but is very obnoctious and funny.

[Aden Casey]

it was good

[Bryleigh Godwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't that good of a story