• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

Key Selling Points

• It's the aftermath of World War II in Toronto and 10-year-old Barbara realizes that, while her father's away helping Jewish refugees in Europe, she has to be the one to solve the problem of the peacock living in their back garden before the winter comes.
• The Peacock delves into the experience of being Jewish in 1947 in Canada, what it was like to be a child during the war, the treatment of refugees by the world at large, and how the acts of kind individuals can make huge positive change.
• This historical fiction chapter book takes on a less-represented period of history, just after World War II, shining a light on the displaced persons living in encampments in Europe and what people tried to do to help, from the viewpoint of a Jewish Canadian family.
• The metaphor of the peacock (a stand-in for the refugees Barbara's father is helping) gives readers an entry point to think about displaced people but in a lighthearted way (with a happy ending).
• A bonus glossary will be online for readers interested in extra background about the book's context.
• Contains 22 black-and-white illustrations.

Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod is a Canadian writer who lives in northern Israel. She writes award-winning books for Jewish kids and families, as well as fiction, nonfiction and poetry for a range of publications. She has won PJ Library’s Author Incentive Award twice, along with SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award, the only peer-selected award for excellence in the field of children’s literature.

Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod's profile page

Jaimie MacGibbon is a children’s illustrator living in the small mountain town of Nelson, British Columbia. She is a self-taught artist who enjoys working with both traditional and digital media. Jaimie loves using expressive line work, playing with light and creating characters full of life. Her work celebrates the beauty of everyday life, curiosity and imagination.

Jaimie MacGibbon's profile page

“Told in short and digestible chapters, this chapter book packs a narrative punch…and provides a glimpse into a less well-known historical moment for readers to learn about.”

Booklist

“A quick, lighthearted read laced with humor and broken up with black-and-white artwork…Barbara’s a winsome protagonist sure to endear herself to readers…A gentle entry point into a complex history.”

Kirkus Reviews

“A touching and educational illustrated chapter book that highlights empathy, resourcefulness, and the importance of community. An enriching addition to library bookshelves.”

School Library Journal

“The author has based the contents of The Peacock on her own family history, and it’s a way for young children to learn a little about the impact of war, especially World War II and its impact on the Jews and the many other refugees…Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials