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The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock
The other peacocks want Prewitt to move away, then they discover the benefits of his ferocious-looking tail.
32 pages, Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1993
About the author
Bill Peet
55 books239 followersBill Peet was an American children's book illustrator and a story writer for Disney Studios. He joined Disney in 1937 and worked on The Jungle Book, Song of the South, Cinderella, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Goliath II, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Fantasia, The Three Caballeros, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and other stories.
After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.
After successes developing short stories for Disney, Peet had his first book published, Hubert's Hair Raising Adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 28, 2019
I love this book. I love Bill Peet’s books, and after reading a few I realize that he is rather predictable. Underdog has something different that the group doesn’t like. That thing ends up saving said group and they respect him in the end. It’s sort of the ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Raindeer kind of story.
Predictable as it may be, I still enjoyed this immensely. I love peacocks, which I have stories about. I lived close to a farm that had a peacock growing up. At night, in high school, on my way home I would roll down my windows and sing opera out the window. Phantom, Faust or Mozart. The peacock would answer back at me singing away. My family thought it was great fun and so when friends were over they had me sing to the peacocks. So I have a good relationship with them.
I love the tail feathers Prewitt has. It’s a scary face indeed. I also love Travis the tiger; he reminds me of the wolf in ‘the Sword in the Stone’. I love that cartoon. The artwork is amazing, Of course it is, it’s Bill Peet.
The nephew thought this book was funny. He loved the peacocks and the crazy old Travis. He didn’t think the tail looked all that scary and he wouldn’t have run. He would have eaten them. He enjoyed the story and gave this 3 stars.
Predictable as it may be, I still enjoyed this immensely. I love peacocks, which I have stories about. I lived close to a farm that had a peacock growing up. At night, in high school, on my way home I would roll down my windows and sing opera out the window. Phantom, Faust or Mozart. The peacock would answer back at me singing away. My family thought it was great fun and so when friends were over they had me sing to the peacocks. So I have a good relationship with them.
I love the tail feathers Prewitt has. It’s a scary face indeed. I also love Travis the tiger; he reminds me of the wolf in ‘the Sword in the Stone’. I love that cartoon. The artwork is amazing, Of course it is, it’s Bill Peet.
The nephew thought this book was funny. He loved the peacocks and the crazy old Travis. He didn’t think the tail looked all that scary and he wouldn’t have run. He would have eaten them. He enjoyed the story and gave this 3 stars.
November 15, 2017
“The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock” is a children’s book about self-confidence from the popular children’s author, Bill Peet. This book details Prewitt’s, a peacock, dilemma when his tail, at first was scrawny, becomes a horrifying looking tail over a matter of days! This children’s book is truly a unique treat to read as you would never imagine a tail forming into a scary face over time and that will definitely catch any child’s attention.
Bill Peet does an excellent job with both the illustrations and the writing for the story. Bill Peet’s illustrations are vibrant and beautiful as he effectively draws the trees in the jungle in a scraggly way. The image that is the highlight in this book is the image of Prewitt’s tail. Prewitt’s tail is certainly a sight to see as Bill Peet draws Prewitt’s tail with two angry looking blue eyes and a frightening looking jagged mouth with sharp looking greenish teeth. Also, I thought that the clutching feathery claws added an even spookier effect as they really look like they are going to grab you real quick. Bill Peet’s writing is excellent as he tells the story of a peacock named Prewitt who at first lost confidence in himself because of his tail, but then gains it back when he realizes that his scary looking tail makes him unique from the other peacocks. I also loved the way that Prewitt defended his tail against the other peacocks stating that he would rather have a tai that is scary-looking than to have no tail.
“The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock” is probably one of Bill Peet’s most lovable books as it expresses the value of individuality. I would recommend this book to children ages six and up since this book would be a tad bit too long for smaller children to get through.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
March 13, 2010
The facial expressions of Prewitt the peacock, Travis the tiger, and the other peacocks are extremely funny, so amusing I laughed out loud. I just loved the illustrations, all of them.
The story is very message heavy, but I always root for underdogs, so I thought it was a fun story. I have to feel a little sorry for the tiger though; he’s just so goofy.
The story is very message heavy, but I always root for underdogs, so I thought it was a fun story. I have to feel a little sorry for the tiger though; he’s just so goofy.
March 14, 2018
3* art
3* story
Sometimes what seems like a problem is an advantage. This is a great story about an outcast becoming a leader. Squirt thought it was funny.
3* story
Sometimes what seems like a problem is an advantage. This is a great story about an outcast becoming a leader. Squirt thought it was funny.
February 2, 2020
The other peacocks in Prewitt's pride, from the very grand Phineas, with his magnificent tail, to Phineas' many followers, had little use for their smallest and least significant member, with his scraggly two tail feathers. But when Prewitt's tail begins to take on a rather spooky appearance - with bushy eyebrows beginning to form over the two eye spots, and a jagged mouth, and grasping claws appearing - he is given a choice: lose his tail altogether, or be ejected from the pride. Heartbroken, Prewitt contemplates the choice between turning his back on who he is, or turning his back on the only companions he has ever known. Is there, perhaps, a third choice...?
Like The Wump World , the only other Bill Peet title I have read, The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock is a little message-heavy. It is an earnestly delivered, obviously heartfelt, and very good message, of course - namely, that differences can be a strength, and that we shouldn't have to sacrifice our identity, in order to belong to a group - but it still lurks rather prominently, just beneath the surface of the text. Still, if one can ignore that, the story itself is a lot of fun (I was reminded of Tacky the Penguin , another tale of a misfit whose oddity saves the day), and the colorful illustrations are engaging.
Like The Wump World , the only other Bill Peet title I have read, The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock is a little message-heavy. It is an earnestly delivered, obviously heartfelt, and very good message, of course - namely, that differences can be a strength, and that we shouldn't have to sacrifice our identity, in order to belong to a group - but it still lurks rather prominently, just beneath the surface of the text. Still, if one can ignore that, the story itself is a lot of fun (I was reminded of Tacky the Penguin , another tale of a misfit whose oddity saves the day), and the colorful illustrations are engaging.
February 4, 2012
We have just recently discovered Bill Peet's books and I am in love. The narratives are entertaining and the illustrations are terrific, too. I love that many of these stories are as old as I am and yet have stood the test of time.
This is a story about a poor peacock who does not have the lush tail that his companions have and is threatened by the group leader. He stands up for himself and finds a way to become an important part of the group. We loved the characters, especially Travis the old, toothless tiger and we really enjoyed reading this story together.
This is a story about a poor peacock who does not have the lush tail that his companions have and is threatened by the group leader. He stands up for himself and finds a way to become an important part of the group. We loved the characters, especially Travis the old, toothless tiger and we really enjoyed reading this story together.
November 28, 2019
I really wanted to shelve this with fables and fairy tales, but that didn't seem quite fair since this is a Peet original. Here he tackles bullying and the value of diversity.
Building the story around the elegant tales of peacocks was ingenious. Peacocks are one of the first exotic birds that kids notice. (And the kids in our family liked to follow the peacocks at the zoo.)
Building the story around the elegant tales of peacocks was ingenious. Peacocks are one of the first exotic birds that kids notice. (And the kids in our family liked to follow the peacocks at the zoo.)
January 18, 2019
Into Bill Peet books these days...
July 6, 2017
My first introduction to Bill Peet was in elementary school when I had got my hands on his autobiography. Although it was a bit heavy of a read at the time it was full of charming characters, bright colors and a wonderful story of an artist whom everyone has seen yet really doesn't know by name. And it is since of that book I eagerly look through the older Disney movies to see if he is a credit to that film or not like "The 101 Dalmatians".
Anyway since of that same book I knew that he always had an interesting cast of characters for his stories but I never got a chance to read much of those books. Anyway while I was flipping through another book my sister so generously set this one down before me although I had two books to go before I could get to it.
Just as with his other artwork, the illustrations are wonderful. They are bright colored, richly detailed and speak just as well as the actual story. There is a timelessness where you know the pictures haven't come from this modern timeframe where so many things resemble each other.
And the story with its own cast is just as timeless as everything else with so many good lessons to read about and pick up on. Whether you are sticking your head up too proudly or ducking it too low in shame or even whether you are trying to collect your voice there is a page in this book for you to read and cherish.
Anyway since of that same book I knew that he always had an interesting cast of characters for his stories but I never got a chance to read much of those books. Anyway while I was flipping through another book my sister so generously set this one down before me although I had two books to go before I could get to it.
Just as with his other artwork, the illustrations are wonderful. They are bright colored, richly detailed and speak just as well as the actual story. There is a timelessness where you know the pictures haven't come from this modern timeframe where so many things resemble each other.
And the story with its own cast is just as timeless as everything else with so many good lessons to read about and pick up on. Whether you are sticking your head up too proudly or ducking it too low in shame or even whether you are trying to collect your voice there is a page in this book for you to read and cherish.
October 27, 2022
Bill Peet delivers another wonderful story about a peacock with an unusual tail. The other peacocks don’t like him because he’s odd, but then something happens and they gratefully change their minds.
Ages: 3 - 8
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
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Ages: 3 - 8
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
July 29, 2020
There is a peacock named Prewitt. All the other peacocks in his flock were strutting and he was sad because he didn't have a big tail. He only had two eyespots. In the end he gets a spooky tail.
December 28, 2012
D'aww. Of course, on page three you know how this is going to turn out, and I don't really like Prewitt or any of his fellow peacocks, but the drawings were the point for me. Peet's illustrations are delightful and very expressive, and even if you've read the be-who-you-are storyline a thousand times, it's still a good lesson to learn.
And the tail is kind of spooky. If I were a kid, I wouldn't much want one like that.
And the tail is kind of spooky. If I were a kid, I wouldn't much want one like that.
April 15, 2013
This would be a good book to use during an author study. Because not only is he the author, he is also the illustrator of all of his stories. So this could motivate your students to want to be the author and illustrator of all of their stories. Also this book is good to use when talking about bullying, and how to treat others. Prewitt is picked on because he is different from the other peacocks, in the end though it is his differences that save them all.
May 29, 2016
A bit like the tale of the Ugly Duckling, this wonderful Bill Peet story relates the tale of Prewitt Peacock, whose tail is much smaller and less beautiful than the other peacocks. When his tail starts to grow, it becomes scary-looking. The other peacocks want him to either leave or get rid of his tail. What will Prewitt do?
Such a great story, that teaches that, even if something or someone is looked down on now, later they may become valued.
Such a great story, that teaches that, even if something or someone is looked down on now, later they may become valued.
December 1, 2010
Prewitt the Peacock is not proud like the peacocks. His tail has less feathers and less eyes than the other peacocks. But all of sudden his tail grows. Only it doesnt grow like a other peacocks tails, it grow into a spooky face. The other peacocks dont like his tail until he scare Travis the Tiger with it. After that day the other peacocks follow prewitt and he is a proud peacock.
July 25, 2014
This is a book I remember from my own childhood so I wasn't sure my 8-year-old would like it. It doesn't have "cute" illustrations like most books have now. It has a lot of words compared to many books we read. But I decided to try it and he enjoyed it!
October 9, 2017
This was such a great book and I really enjoyed reading it with my students. The drawings are amazing and the language was descriptive and a fun story to read. The story is about how it is ok to be different and that different is good.
October 30, 2017
I"m pretty sure I read this book as a kid at my elementary school library! It's a funny book about an unusual peacock and how he saved the day. I love Bill Peet and found this at a library book sale and was super excited.
December 10, 2017
LG, BL 3.8 AR #19596
This is the story of Prewitt Peacock who is picked on by his fellow peacocks because of his tail--until one day something miraculous happens and he's now the hero. Similar concept with Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Fun play in the title of "tail" -v- "tale"
This is the story of Prewitt Peacock who is picked on by his fellow peacocks because of his tail--until one day something miraculous happens and he's now the hero. Similar concept with Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Fun play in the title of "tail" -v- "tale"
December 30, 2018
Prewitt's tale is adorable. The treatment he received from the other peacocks is abhorrent. I am not a fan of the tiger being the bad guy. But it do love Prewitt's persistence and desire to rise above his tail. But to me, his tail is adorable.
April 3, 2019
Prewitt was a peacock with a not so fabulous tail like the others in the muster. Prewitt's tail feathers take on a life of their own, and become quite useful when Travis, a scrawny old bully of a tiger comes to cause trouble.
August 7, 2010
Another good story about how sometimes the thing that others see as a weakness can be the thing that saves the day.
April 5, 2011
Great picture book with one of the funniest visual jokes in a kids' book.
August 5, 2012
Hysterical!
Making Meaning Grade 3 Resource Kit
Making Meaning Grade 3 Resource Kit
January 11, 2013
Predictable story, but the illustrations are wonderful. I am a huge Bill Peet fan, but this is not among his best.
March 28, 2016
I read this book with Caleb and we were both laughing out loud at the illustrations. Great story too. We love Bill Peet.
November 18, 2022
Never read a bad Bill Peet book :)
May 19, 2014
I had completely forgotten about this book until my daughter checked it out to read together.
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/...
http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/...
February 20, 2015
Review to follow soon.
August 12, 2019
A story about how being different can be a good thing. It's not scary, so any child who is able to follow a story can read/listen to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews