Tag Tilly Matthews

Paul the Peacock (Reluctantly) To the Rescue

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Paul the Peacock (Reluctantly) To the Rescue
Tilly Matthews
Happy Yak

Time was Paul the Peacock was the most egotistical creature in the forest but recently he’s endeavouring to live up to his new persona as Mr Nice. It’s exhausting however and he longs for a brief spell of peace and quiet. While snatching a few relaxing moments alone, his slumbers are disturbed by the arrival of a letter. This he throws away without bothering to open it and continues snoozing, albeit briefly, for a few minutes later, there is Norris clutching the now opened letter and looking very worried. The letter is from Paul’s cousin Connie the Peahen far away and Paul’s help is urgently required.

Immediately Norris packs their bags and off they sail to save the day, After a testing journey over stormy waters, through a horrendously hot deserts, up the side of a bubbling volcano they eventually reach the forest. Now to find Connie. The local creatures are unhelpful but then a gorilla appears and points to the direction in which Connie lives. Or does she? All they discover when they reach the spot is one egg in an abandoned nest. Norris begins a series of attempts to get the egg to respond. They’re on the point of giving up and returning from whence they came when the egg cracks revealing a perfect peachick.
At Norris’s insistence Paul agrees that after he’s rested they should take it home with them.

Norris goes to find the best route and Paul convinces himself that he’s been left by his best pal. Not by Chick though: the fluffy creature has already become a Paul devotee.

Next morning with the three of them reunited, they prepare for the homeward journey. Suddenly Connie appears whereupon Paul decides that he and Norris have one final task before their departure …
Thanks to Chick, Paul has learned that caring has something to offer even the most selfish animal.

A droll telling that carries vital messages about loving and caring and the environment, with some deadpan comic incidents theatrically portrayed in Tilly Matthews’ scenes.

Paul the Peacock

jillrbennett Leave a comment

Paul the Peacock
Tilly Matthews
Happy Yak

It’s clear from the outset that Paul considers himself an entitled peacock. He has the biggest nest, the most loyal friend and his pride and joy – the most beautiful feathers in the forest. His trusty pal Noris the loris ensures that Paul receives plenty of pampering every single day until one evening a fierce storm blows up. Norris is sent out for more branches to strengthen Paul’s nest but the loris has had enough of his feathery friend’s arrogance and bossiness.

The following morning Paul wakes to discover disaster has struck: he no longer has a home, Norris and worst of all, his feathers have gone – every single one.

For the first time ever, the peacock heads out on his own to search for those missing feathers; Paul is nothing without his plumage so he’s determined to retrieve every single one. Now politeness is not a quality Paul possesses so he goes about demanding the animals he comes upon with one of those feathers to return it immediately; either that or he attempts to snatch it back.

Hmm, you’ve a lot to learn Paul and you’re going to have to do it the hard way, and eventually he does.
Could those same creatures that he’s treated so badly enable Paul to discover that there’s something even more important in life than himself and his appearance?

Tilly Matthews’ fun fable demonstrates the importance of considering the feelings of others as well as being able to show humility and value one’s friends. The illustrations are full of drama and details that will amuse both young listeners and adult sharers of the book. Lots to think about and discuss here.