Mingo the Flamingo

by Pete Oswald

new

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Family, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Pete Oswald is a #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator and an Annie Award-nominated animation production designer best known for The Angry Birds Movie film franchise and Oscar® Nominated ParaNorman, in addition to multiple animated studio films. He is also known for his work as a children's book author and illustrator, and painter. Pete's work includes the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Good Egg, the #2 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Bad Seed, and the #2 New York Times bestselling picture book, The Smart Cookie, all written by Jory John.

As a character designer and concept artist, Pete has helped to uplift many of the most successful animated franchises. Among other projects, Pete has worked on Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball 1 & 2; and Hotel Transylvania; and Oscar® Nominated ParaNorman, for which he earned an Annie Award nomination. Pete also earned two additional Annie Award nominations for shorts that he directed and designed: The Story of Walls and Doubtsourcing.

Pete’s author debut, Hike, was shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. It published early 2020 from Candlewick Press. The Attack of the Underwear Dragon and The Return of the Underwear Dragon, written by Scott Rothman and illustrated by Pete, are both indie-bestsellers. The Food Group Series published by HarperCollins, includes The Bad Seed (2017), The Good Egg (2019), The Cool Bean (2019), The Couch Potato (2020), The Good Egg Presents: The Great Eggscape! (2020), The Smart Cookie (2021), The Bad Egg Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky (2021), and The Sour Grape (2022) written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete. All five released books have been on The New York Times Bestseller List for children's picture books.

Passionate about painting, Pete is also active in the fine arts space. He recently debuted a collection of paintings inspired by the California Coast, in the pop-up art gallery show, “Pacific Abstract.” The show, hosted at Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station, captures his observations in an impressionistic, yet graphic style. The series celebrates Pete’s affinity for his favorite coastline, inspired by his personal experiences since moving to Los Angeles from his native Utah to attend Loyola Marymount University. Pete previously has shown his work at WWA Gallery in Culver City.

Pete lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and three sons.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about trying to overcome adversity that will teach children that there is always someone who will help you.

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story about overcoming adversity, particularly physical disability, and doing what you have to in order to achieve your dreams. It reads well aloud, although the reader will be better suited to it if they're comfortable doing voices, and the pop of pink against white and grey backgrounds is certain to get the kid's attention, as it certainly got my son's!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The personable Mingo loses his whereabouts during a bad storm. After a crash landing on a farm and a bit of amnesia, it takes much work and determination to finally figure out who he is and where he belongs. Cute story and pictures!

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mingo is a young flamingo who is getting ready to migrate with his family. When a storm separates him from the flock, Mingo has to learn about himself and figure out how to get back to his flock. A group of farm animals befriend Mingo and help him find a new way to fly. This is a cute little friendship story. The illustrations use a grayscale coloring for everything except the pink flamingos. This is a different choice than most children’s picture books and it helps to establish setting and focus on the main character.

[Grace Huey · Rating 5 out of 5]

No help needed: lightning, rooster, mustache, animals, neigh, slowly, asked, flying, shouted, flamingo, busted, personal, trainer, stronger, thought, muttered

Help needed: journey, straight, until, figure, surely, began, rushed, machine, touched

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I like how everything is in black and white except for Mingo and then at the end all the colors appear. This story is a very sweet story too!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book and illustrations. I like the drastic color changes of grayness and the bright pink of the flamingo. Also, the name is quite clever and it made me chuckle when I saw it.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

It is a book about a small flamingo ready to fly south with its parents, but they hit a storm and Mingo left down in a snowy farm. The animals didn't know what Mingo was and neither did Mingo. He had quite a fall that he didn't remember who he was. The Hen helped Mingo out and everyone made him feel at home, except Mingo still felt like there was something missing occasionally. One day he realized who he was and trained so his wing got better so he can fly, but to no avail. He couldn't fly so the animals teamed up and surprised Mingo with a flying machine where Mingo flew to be reunited with his parents and the other flamingos.

[Skyla Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a cute read and it would be great for a classroom. It has so man opportunities for voices and sounds ad so on. This book is all about a little flamingo named Mingo who was flying south with his family but ran into a problem. He was struck down in a storm and landed on a farm. He lost his memory and made friends with the animals on the farm. One day he remembered who he was and he worked hard to get his hurt wing back into shape so he could fly home. But that didn’t work so his friends created him a flying machine. He took it and rode it all the way home to his family. This is a great overcoming the odds type of book and it is also great for children learning about friendships and kindness.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mingo’s first flight south for the winter doesn’t not go well and he crash lands onto a farm. The farm animals are rather puzzled as to what Mingo is (A golf club? a mustache? a lawn ornament?) and Mingo can’t remember who he is. The farm animals are very welcoming, including mother hen who wraps up his injuries. Mingo tries to fit in, but just knows there is something missing. When he sees some geese flying south for the winter, he suddenly remembers who he is. But is he strong enough to return to his flock?

[Micha O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one gets a solid meh. If the art looks familiar is that the Oswald is part of the creative team responsible for Hotel Transylvania, Madagascar, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I was onboard and rooting for Mingo to be just another barnyard friend until he tries to fly and fails. The ending was abrupt and not well thought out, in my opinion.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet read about an adorable young flamingo whose migration is interrupted by a storm that separates him from his family. Thankfully a compassionate group of farm animals aids Mingo during this wearisome time. The illustrations are adorable and so expressive! Kids will love Mingo the Flamingo.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually really cute. There were actually teaching moments in the book. The story was cute and the illustrations were adorable. The illustrations in itself are what got this book the four stars. This could be great for a story time, getting the children interactive with the barn yard animals and flamingos.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little flamingo accidentally takes a nose dives into a barn yard while flying south. He's hurt his wing so he can't join the flock. The farm animals make him welcome, but he never really feels part of the family. They band together to help him get back to his mom and dad.

Illustrations are pretty good!

[McKenna R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute illustrations, with a gray monochromatic and pink color palette, but the story itself was lackluster. It had promise, but ultimately I felt it failed in execution. Still a good book, just nothing special.

[Leticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this one solely because Violet's comfort object is her fluffy flamingo named Mingo, but it actually turned out to be a really precious and funny book, and is an especially good read-aloud. Will need to look for this one for our personal collection.

[Laura Turowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is really for my 6 year old, who loves all of Pete Oswald's books and flamingoes. He loved it. He laughed at parts. He also held his stuffed animal flamingo the whole time we read it. A fun book for kids who love animals.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kindergarteners liked the book, though I thought the end was a big abrupt. The kids "awwwwwed" over the parents forming a heart on the last page.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A goofy story which feels a bit contrived. Love the title, the support of friendship by the farm animals is nice and I love the last page with all of the colors.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is currently my 2 year old niece's favorite book and I have read it approximately 40 times to her already! :)

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I didn't even know flamingos could fly. Second, that farm looks very dreary.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A flamingo falls from the sky and gets hurt and left behind by his family. Can he find a new family? Stay where he is? what will ahppen to him? Cute and funny. Preschool and up

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations and the story was pretty good too (although why weren't Mingo's parents out looking for him?). My 3-year-old has an obsession with flamingos, so this was right up her alley.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Danette · Rating 2 out of 5]

8/13/18 Read with Julia

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this cute little story about a lost Flamingo. The illustrations are wonderful because almost every page is white, gray and black with the flamingo pink shining through. So fun!

[Megan Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had a very abrupt ending, I thought.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty simplistic with an abrupt ending, but the illustrations are so fun and the chicken who helps Mingo has a great attitude when the other farm animals are initially curious.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too fantastical of a story. Not a great story for a toddler because they need stories that are realistic.

[Jean Doolittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute pictures, not an exceptional story line