The Most Beautiful Child

by William Papas

Kind Mrs. Owl is asked by proud Mr. Peacock to take his child's lunch to school. "How shall I know," she asked, "which one is your son?" Mr. Peacock laughed and preened himself. "Just give it to the most beautiful child there," he said. With a deliciously satisfying ending, Mr. Peacock learns his lesson. Gloriously colorful, packed with birds of every hue, Papas's energy for life sings out of every illustration.

Genres: Picture Books

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

William "Bill" Papas was a political cartoonist and caricaturist, book author and illustrator, and watercolourist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian, The Sunday Times and Punch, and he illustrated books written by more than a dozen people. His work has won international acclaim and is included in many private and corporate collections around the world.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of the avian residents of the forest agreed that Mr. Peacock was the most beautiful bird, and Mrs. Owl the ugliest. When Mrs. Owl heads to school one day to bring her child lunch, Mr. Peacock asks her to deliver his child's meal as well, saying she will recognize the junior peacock as being the most beautiful one there. Imagine his surprise when, upon her return, she reports that she could find no child more beautiful than her own...

Apparently a well-known twentieth-century cartoonist for such British publications as The Guardian and Punch, William Papas also wrote children's stories, one of which is presented here. Originally published in 1973 by Oxford University Press, The Most Beautiful Child, was reprinted this past year (2018) in this new edition, and features Papas' distinctive illustrations. The story itself has the feeling of a classic fable, while the artwork has a lovely mosaic feeling that I found very appealing. I wasn't familiar with William Papas' work, picking this up, so I had no expectations. Having now enjoyed one of his stories, I would definitely pick up another. Recommended to fans of the artist, and to anyone looking for children's stories exploring the concept of beauty and how we perceive it.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute and beautifully-illustrated picture book about perception.

Mr Peacock asks Mrs Owl to take his son his lunch. She asks, Which is your son? and Mr Peacock tells her to give the lunch to the most beautiful child.
When she gets to the school, she looks at each child, comparing them.
When she goes back to Mr Peacock she tells him that the most beautiful child was her own.

This book would be a good to include in kindergarten and junior primary discussions about how different people see things in different ways and that things like "beauty" are subjective.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good message.

[Janika Puolitaival · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kauneuden etsintää ja vastakohtien vertailua lempeässä tarinassa. Ihastuttava kuvitustyyli.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great message. It was a bit confusing and pretty lack luster.

[Tinker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tämä oli kiva ja söötti. Kirjassa on hyvä sanoma ja tarina on hyvin kerrottu ja sopivan yksinkertainen. Kuvitus oli nätti ja siinä oli paljon kivoja yksityiskohtia. Mutta välillä kuvitus oli liiankin värikästä ja tiivistä, niin että lopputulos tuntui vähän levottomalta.

Ja miten muka metsän lintujen joukosta pöllö oli rumin?