Tickled Pink: How Friendship Washes the World with Color

by Andrée Poulin, Lucile Danis Drouot (Illustrator)

Filippo can’t help that he’s pink. He’s a flamingo, after all. But Zac the zebra and Poncho the panda aren’t having it. They only want to play with fellow black-and-white animals. Filippo is sure he’ll never be content without Zac and Poncho’s friendship. But what would the world be without pink? There would be no rose, no sunsets, no strawberry ice cream. With a little love and encouragement along the way, Filippo sets out to find the value of pink―and of himself.

With Tickled Pink, award-winning author Andrée Poulin delivers a fun, heartwarming tale about finding the confidence to be yourself. Illustrator Lucile Danis Drouot highlights Filippo as the only spot of color in a black and white world, gradually making the journey more vibrant as the little flamingo’s confidence―and the reader’s―begins to soar.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2019

About the author

Andrée Poulin is a former journalist and current award-winning author of children's books who lives in Québec, Canada.

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tickled Pink: How Friendship Washes the World with Color by Andree Poulin, illustrated by Lucile Danis Drout. PICTURE BOOK. Pajama Press, 2020. $19. 9781772781045

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Filippo the flamingo wants to play with the panda and zebra, but they reject Filippo because he is pink. At first Filippo tries to find ways to fit in - like painting black onto his feathers - but nothing seems to work. Then another black and white animal steps in to be Filippo’s friend and everything seems better again.

Poulin spends a lot of time beating the others’ rejection of Filippo over our heads and very little on adding color to the world with friendship, making the point of the very long title fall flat.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fanfan the flamingo really wants to play with Paco and Zak, but the panda and zebra keep finding excuses because flamingos are too pink. Fanfan has a bit of an identity crisis but eventually learns about self-acceptance and what it means to be a true friend.

I'm disappointed I didn't have a physical copy of this book, as I would have liked to hug it. I don't know if this book is available in English, but the French is perfect for my younger students. The story is clever and the characters absolute darlings. The message of self-acceptance and celebration of the color pink made me smile. I had a lot of fun reading this story and hope to share it with many of my friends and students.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filippo, the pink flamingo, wants to play with some other animals, but they won't let him because they say pink is for babies, pink gives them a headache, and pink doesn't mix with their colors. Filippo goes home to his family, who encourage him and remind him of all the beautiful things in the world that are pink. A shy lemur approaches Filippo to make friends, and Filippo learns that friendship can bloom anywhere and you can be accepted just the way you are.

This sweet book has such a great message about acceptance, but it's told in such a fun and entertaining way that it doesn't feel preachy at all. Filippo is an adorable main character, and I loved going on this emotional journey with him. His flamingo family are wonderful at encouraging him and pointing out how great his color is.
Pink strawberry icecream, cotton candy, sunsets, roses, and a dozen other things are mentioned as having a lovely pink color. His family prove to Filippo that his color is beautiful and he is worthy of having good friends.

Each time that Filippo approaches the animals and asks to play with them, that shy lemur is in the background of the illustrations watching the encounter as Filippo is taunted and teased because of his color. Finally the lemur gets up the courage to talk to Filippo and they become good friends!

I love the adorable illustrations! Most of the artwork is in black and white and grays, so that Filippo's bright pink color stands out. Each member of the flamingo family has a slightly different shade of pink feathers, making the illustrations really special. The expressions on the characters' faces are so vivid and full of energy! The illustrations really deepen the story and add a lot of humor to the book!

I love this cute book!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Alexis Gee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a re-gifted review copy from a neighbor. I really wanted to like this because my kid loves pink things, including this book, but it has some fatal flaws. I haven't read the original French, so I'm not sure how much has changed in translation and editions.
One: kids not wanting to play with other kids is NOT bullying. I didn't see any reference to bullying in here. I'm not sure why its categorized that way
Two: if the older family members address what actually happened, ie something along the lines of "sometimes people won't want to play with you, and there doesn't have to be a reason for it, and it doesn't make the mean things they say about you true..." and there's no story. I get that it's trying to be affirming, but i don't think it actually succeeds at addressing self-esteem.
Three: I get that Filippo is hurt by the rejection, but I don't think this book proposes or models good ways of handling this, and there's nothing to suggest awareness of a need to change behaviour or expectations, which could have been addressed with the older family members.
Four: the major issue is related to the response and the payback that Ludo and Fillippo get. This is completely inappropriate and the opposite of any work I'm trying to teach my child about consent. I skip these pages to go to the end which has other animals consent and is positive. I think this makes the story both a failure and inappropriate for young readers. I would have flagged all these issues in any first reading before acquisition.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As most teachers know and many youngsters come to realize, there are always those who make fun of anyone who is a little bit different. Accompanied by illustrations created with traditional and digital media incorporating spots of pink, of course, this picture book tells the story of a flamingo looking for friendship. After being rebuffed by Zac the zebra and Poncho the panda because he's too pink, Filippo is confused and lonely. His parents assure him that pink does not cause headaches as the other two animals told him but is a wonderful color. Still, no matter what he tries, even adding black stripes to his feathers. All this effort is in vain since the two other animals simply won't accept Filippo and continue to denigrate him for his pink color. After watching all this for some time, Lupo the lemur tries to make Filippo feel better by listing all the things that are pink, and then, the two of them add a little bit of pink paint to the bodies of Zac and Poncho while they are sleeping. This picture book might be good to share with youngsters as a reminder that being different is perfectly fine and that there will be others will judge us or don't want to be around us for the silliest reason. Judging someone by his/her exterior or color is a waste of time. All in all, it's best to embrace our own identity and not worry about what others think. Plus, pink is one of my favorite colors. I just couldn't imagine a world without a pink sunrise or sunset or one perfect pink rose.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book that reminds all to be inclusive when interacting with others.

Filippo the flamingo wants to play with Zac the zebra and Poncho the panda, however they only want to play with each other. They come up with one feeble excuse after another to deny him. Finally, Ludo the lemur - who has been watching all of this go on - offers some words of comfort and a suggestion of action to take.

First published in France, this sends a strong message of inclusion. Poulin's text is light and playful, a nice match for Danis Drouot's playful illustrations created with traditional and digital media. Though the resolution is not necessarily a workable solution for most kids, the process of going to an adult for advice is well-advised.

Excellent for grades PreS-K.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for sharing this book with our ARC-sharing group, the Lit Review Crew! This book has an eye-catching cover with the contrast of pink against the white and black. I really liked how Filippo (the flamingo) changed through the book and was able to discover his value after befriending Ludo the Lemur. It’s a great book on friendship and finding your place.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A flamingo gets left out for being too colorful. Their family tries to cheer them up, but it takes time until finally another animals accepts the flamingo for who they are. Then it's time for... REVENGE! Well, perhaps this isn't the ideal storytime book, but it does teach a lesson about embracing your differences.

[Sarah Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would score it higher, but the leamor just watched the Flamingo get persicuted for being pink for over half of the book, then finally says he will be his friend. I don't think the Panda and Zebra actually learned anything in the end. They still look annoyed AF at all the Pink.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bel album sur l'inclusion… et que le rose n'est pas seulement pour les filles!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the help of a new, fun-loving friend, Fillipo the flamingo learns that the world is a much better place because of its beautiful variety of colors, especially pink.

[Debbie Tanner]

This might be a good one to compare to The Sneetches by Dr. Suess.

[molliekay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The answer to bullying is not bullying them back.

[Marie-Pier Dodier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le rose c'est pour tout le monde. Différence. Rejet.

[Pascal Scallon-Chouinard · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’est l’histoire d’un flamant rose qui ne demande qu’à jouer avec des amis (un zèbre et un panda), mais qui se fait rejeter et ridiculiser. Il tente de changer et de se transformer pour leur plaire, jusqu’à ce qu’il comprenne qu’il n’y a rien qui cloche chez lui et qu’il n’a pas à changer. Ce livre met en image certaines situations vécues à la garderie, et permet de les expliquer.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4
Illustrations 4