Petunia Paris’s Parrot
Petunia Paris is a very lucky and very wealthy little girl. Each birthday, her parties are splendid, lavish affairs where she can ask for whatever she wants in the whole world, and it arrives! But on her sixth birthday, it seems she already has everything; a swimming pool, a bicycle with a chauffeur, her own library and all the dresses she could ever want. So she says the first thing that pops into her head. Petunia wants a parrot.
When the scarlet macaw arrives all the way from Peru, Petunia is delighted. Unfortunately, the parrot is not. He will not learn to talk and is lonely, missing his beautiful home. So, on Petunia’s seventh birthday, she does something a little different…
A heart-warming and appealing story about the difference between wanting and needing, Petunia Paris’s Parrot teaches an important lesson while also being thoroughly entertaining. Petunia never comes across as being spoilt or selfish. She simply has not learned to consider others’ needs. This is quite a poignant point for the age which this book is aimed at, for most children will not have yet figured this out. With eloquence and charm, the story is told in a style that allows the reader to relate and understand. There is gentle humour and delight as a journey toward compassion. The illustrations are fun, with wonderful expressive line drawings and subtle colouring (apart from the macaw, which is of course scarlet) that add the perfect accent. Engaging throughout with a satisfying conclusion.
