Written and Illustrated by Briony May Smith
Philippa Pheasant is plum tired of crossing Old Oak Road to feast on delicious blackberries, only to be “nearly knocked pancake-flat” by a car that “whizzes past.” When one day she spots schoolchildren crossing a different street with the help of a “tall woman in a bright-yellow uniform,” Philippa fashions her own vest and makeshift stop sign and begins to hold up traffic at the favorite crossing spot of her woodland friends.
The sun-dappled illustrations drop us in the middle of a quaint English countryside, where we are content to stay for a timeless tale of giving back to community. But should you desire another reason, how about Philippa herself? She is plucky, resourceful, and she takes matters into her own feathers to make the streets safer for critter-kind. Being an advocate for wildlife, I love everything about this book. I have marked my calendar to do a read aloud in March for National Crossing Guard Day. I might even invite our beloved crossing guard for a special appearance.
Reviewed by Kristen Hunt, Librarian, Whittier Elementary School
Review shared in December 2023
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-3
A Practical Present for Philippa Pheasant
Written and Illustrated by Briony May Smith
Candlewick Press
32 pages
Release Date: August 22, 2023
ISBN: 9781536228489
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
