Plum can be a bit, shall we say, enthusiastic and naïve, but that also makes them endearing in Leave It to Plum! by Matt Phelan. Plum is a peacock at the local zoo. Plum and their peacock friends and family wander freely throughout greeting guests. Until one day peacock feathers have been found at the scene of several crimes within the zoo. Plum cannot imagine anyone in the zoo trying to frame them, but Plum soon learns that sometimes things are not what they seem, and not-so-good surprises can be around the corner. But then again, some very-good surprises can be too. Adorable black and white illustrations complete the tail, um, tale.
And that is really it. This is not a book I can say a lot about other than it is a lot cuter and funnier than I thought it would be. Plum is not as well, to be blunt, as annoying as a “young child” or peachick could be. Plum might not be the brightest feather in the flock, but he has a lot of heart. The human characters are a bit stereotypical and flat, except the new zookeeper, but overall, they are not bad. It is the other animals that you need to keep your eyes on. The Columbo-like mystery (we know who “done it” but it is up to Plum to find out who) does not take away from the pleasure.
If there is anything that might be a minus is at the end the villain puts our peacock friends in a dangerous situation, therefore the very young child or sensitive child might not be the best reader/listener, but it is not too bad, and of course, you know Plum will eventually save the day Ages kindergarten to young second grade.
