If I have one complaint about Pigeons!: A Fable For Our Times by Marc Chalvin (due December 2025, read via an oline reader) is that the people who need to read this book, won’t. This is the commentary about what is happening today. It comes out and tells us how the Dictator will use anything he can to stay in power. It comes out and tells us there are well meaning people, but they are missing a few pieces of the puzzle. And those who follow are both easy to lead and have the most power, if they only pay attention and are not worrying about how pain will affect their pleasure.
The story is simple: Seagull wants to free the Pigeons from the rule of Crow. She is well meaning, but a simple comment from Crow says it all, she wants to tell the Pigeons what to do, too. Of course, she denies this, she only wants to help by telling the pigeons to have an election; to be free to choose by having multiple candidates. All the while the Pigeons are willing to stay the course, as long as they don’t have to think, don’t have to worry about making choices that will threaten them, as long as they can have fun, but none of the work.
It is literally black and white in the illustrations, but the story is much deeper. And what I told you is only my interpretation of things. You will most likely have a different take on the story. You will not see Crow sadly making sense. You will not see Seagull as too idealistic. And you do not see yourself in the pigeons. Or maybe you will. After all, who am I to tell you what you should do, think or feel?