Young squab or squeaker Is it Pepi or Penn?
Pippa is one feisty little pigeon. She loves nothing more than exploring the world around her treetop home and has even survived one or two adventures on her own. However, when her twin baby brothers, Pepi and Penn arrive, life becomes chaotic for the whole family. Pippa’s dreams of exploring further afield are curtailed as her parents’ time and energy are incessantly consumed by the twins’ constant demands for food and attention. After being relegated to babysit her brothers and nearly losing them in the process, a new danger finally forces Pippa to be the big sister she never thought she could be.
Pippa and The Troublesome Twins is the next exciting episode in our plucky little pigeon’s life as she learns to overcome the disruption of new family members and realises the value of siblings. Sibling jealousy and the feeling of displacement is not new to picture book stories but it has never before been told from an avian point of view. Young readers will instantly recognise this common family dynamic from their own situations while simultaneously learning even more about one of our most fascinating bird species, the homing pigeon.
Did you know young squabs or squeakers as they are known by pigeon fanciers are among the noisiest and most demanding of baby birds? Their constant screeching demands attention and mimics the squeals and cries of small humans so it’s little wonder youngsters like, Pippa feel the need to escape. Squabs or baby pigeons aren’t exactly the cutest looking baby birds but their perky personalities and distinctive squeaking make them fascinating to behold as they grow into clever and colourful adult birds.
The Troublesome Twins is a fun, follow-on Pippa adventure involving our beloved feathered friend that will have young readers on the edge of their nests but is equally entertaining as a stand-alone story.
Pigeon Fun Facts
Teachers’ Notes
Book Trailer
What Squeakers sound like!
Published: 1 June 2023 (HB) & (PB)
Illustrator: Andrew Plant
Publisher: Ford Street Publishing, $26.95 (HB), $17.95 (PB)
ISBN: 9781922696281 (HB) 9781922696298 (PB)
Format: Hardcover 32pp
Ideal for: 3 – 6 years
Buy the Book: Boomerang Books, Booktopia For personally signed copies – contact me direct
Published Reviews & Interviews:
What does our sweet pigeon Pippa want more than anything in this big wide world? Answer: freedom! But that’s a lot harder to come by when you are blessed with the task of babysitting not one, but TWO new baby brothers! Welcome to the nest, Pepi and Penn! Dimity Powell and Andrew Plant have brought even more flapping fun to the Pippa series with their spirited pigeon characters in a splendid squabble of adjusting to new family dynamics – Pippa and the Troublesome Twins! Love this trio! 🙂The Quick Six Interview with Romi Sharp Just Write For Kids Lit Blog
Andrew Plant’s illustrations stand out and many readers will pick up this book from the display recognising his distinctive style, and then be enthralled by the accompanying story of sibling rivalry. A lovely story, beautifully illustrated, Pippa and the Troublesome Twins is an engaging read aloud, with repetition enough to keep them listening and predicting the up coming words, and a frisson of danger to keep them om their toes. Fran Knight ReadPlus
Like its predecessor, this story has themes that will resonate with many readers who have to come to terms with there being new babies in the family and the disruption to everyone’s routines that this causes. But although this might seem to be just for younger readers, the excellent teaching notes that embrace all strands of the curriculum expand some of the themes for more mature readers too. This is an entertaining story that deserves its place in the library’s collection. Barbara Braxton TL The Bottom Shelf
A terrific book to spark conversations around families and siblings, and the ripple effect of new arrivals in the family unit. For many children, this is a valuable learning experience and an emotional scaffold for them. This is a fun and exciting story with a simple, but highly expressive text, and Andrew Plant’s (as always) amazing illustrations. Readers from around 3 years upwards will thoroughly enjoy this one. Sue Warren Just So Stories
Pippa and the Troublesome Twins is a picture book for children 3-8 years that showcases being true to yourself, being adventurous, and family. The book sings as a read-aloud and is appealing to children. It relates to a small child’s world and reflects what happens in families when new siblings arrive. I love that the role of becoming a big sister is showcased. This is a book that will appeal to children, parents, and schools. Teacher notes accompany this lovely book … that is not only well told but filled with delightful language. Karen Henricks Buzz Words
Key themes of this story centre on family and the upheaval siblings feel when new babies arrive. Andrew Plant’s illustrations portray the seemingly endless spectrum of pigeon personality — from peacefully gazing over sunsets to brave flappy madness. A highly recommended heart-warming portrayal of Pippa and her brothers Pepi and Penn because it is a joy to read aloud, and each page presents plenty of interest and action for readers of all ages. Angela Brown CBCA Reading Time
Powell’s playful words combine perfectly with Plant’s wonderful illustrations to create a fun picture book about family dynamics… and adventure. Ideal for reading out loud. It works well as both a follow-up to the original picture book, or a stand-alone. Love it! George Ivanoff, author reviewer
Dimity Powell’s intimate knowledge of her subject is evident in her meticulously chosen text and Plant’s brilliant interpretation of it. From this beautifully presented picture book story, children learn about squabs, their habits, and need of protection until they can fend for themselves. The glorious presentation will encourage children to research further, the fascinating and important lives of homing pigeons. Anastasia Gonis, Kids’ Book Review
Both Pippa’s illustrator, Andrew Plant and I felt Pippa had more to share. So too did many of the school children we visited after the release of Pippa in 2019 so it’s wonderful seeing her take flight again. Primary aged children (and their teachers) get a real kick out of this plucky little pigeon. They seem to relate to her cheek and sass whilst recognising her innate goodness despite her constant desire to just ‘take off’ and play or explore. She’s so ‘kid-like’ but with feathers! The focus of her latest story, the disruption of change, in this case caused by the arrival of twin baby brothers, is a relatable shift in the norm for many youngsters as well. Meet the Author feature in Jackie Hosking’s e-zine PIO
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