Poppy the Proud by Emlyn Chand

Title: Poppy the Proud
Author: Emlyn Chand
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Rating: WORTHY!

Illustrated brilliantly Sarah Shaw.

I reviewed Vicky Finds a Valentine by this author (a little late, I'm afraid!) and liked it, and so it was fun to find another of her that I also liked. Sarah Shaw's artwork in this is truly outstanding, way beyond what you'd normally find in a children's book, which begs the question why? I know children are somewhat less demanding (or perhaps more accurately, more understanding) than adults, but that's no reason to short the short guys!

So what's going on here then? Well, Poppy is someone you have doubtlessly run across in your life - although hopefully not while maneuvering farm machinery. It's someone who struts around thinking they own the place, looking proud and loud, disdainful of everyone. Pea-birds aren't actually like this of course, especially the females. They're charming and very personable, and any one of them will tell you how affronted they feel by our attitude towards them, but just as people have variations in their behaviors, so too do pea-birds, both cocks and hens, and I'm sure there are one or two who fit the bill, and for whom we foot the bill.

One of these is Poppy, who is so focused on his own appearance that he can't see anything but himself - until, that is, a white pea-bird shows up and begins drawing all the attention away from Poppy. Poppy's response is rather like the tango between the USA and the USSR during the cold war - each side trying to one-up the other until things are completely out of control. In this case, however, it's only Poppy who is behaving badly, trying to pimp himself out in ever more ridiculous get-ups in order to revive his get-up and go, and to try and draw attention away from his supposed rival.

That kind of thing is doomed to failure as I'm sure you know, and Poppy has to go through some serious embarrassment before he starts to realize he's no longer a peacock but an ass - and in a one horse race, too; however, he's not a bird brain after all. Poppy learns from his mistakes and ends up with something much better than a fine suit of clothes - something to be really and truly proud of: a new friend! I recommend this book. And do visit the author's and the illustrator's web sites for a look around. Both of them are charming. Emlyn Chand writes more than children's books, and Sarah Shaw's versatility and skill in art is quite remarkable.

Vicky Finds a Valentine by Emlyn Chand

Title: Vicky Finds a Valentine
Author: Emlyn Chand
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Rating: WORTHY!

Illustrated Noelle Griffin.

Okay, I am wa-ay late posing this review, but you know, I'm not in the least bit sorry, because when I thought about holding this review until next year, it occurred to me that there's something fundamentally wrong with having only one day each year where you express love or friendship for someone.

Why only one day? What's wrong with the other 364? More to the point: other than pure commercialism, why focus so very intently upon that one day when you should be spending every day focused on the one(s) you love with equal intensity?

So forget the flowers and the Valentine card and the chocolates. Get into the habit of doing a little something every day - even if it's only leaving a love note, or more practically, washing up the dirty dishes, or making sure you didn't forget what you were requested to pick up from the store on the way home. And make sure you don't forget why you're with that person in the first place - if you want to be sure you're with them in the second place! Be there for them. Love them! Be ready when you're needed, and not with excuses. Don't let them down. Let them breathe.

And give a thought to the birds this winter time! After all, don't they make life delightful for us the rest of the year? Young Vicky is a love bird who has a tough time when it comes to Valentine’s Day. Her friend has gone off to school, armed with cards for all of her school pals and her teacher, and Vicky is all alone in her cage. She decides to go on a hunt for a valentine friend of her own. Will it be the doll sitting lonely on the bed? Will it be the people on the TV? Will it be the…cat?

I think you know where it's at. With Noelle Griffin's warm illustrations and Emlyn Chand's (I have no idea how that's pronounced. It's not mentioned on her blog. I assume it's like 'Shand') sensitive writing, this is a Valentine for any time of the year. Taking a page from The Wizard of Oz, if you take a moment to think abut it, you'll realize that you have everything you need right in your own back yard!

Note that the illustrations were way small on my smart phone (which has a large screen for a phone) and not adjustable. They were larger on the iPad, but still not full screen, although they were adjustable. I can't speak for how this might look in the print version or in the Adobe Digital Editions version.