Introducing Sai the Peacock: The Unique Beak, written by Estani Frizzell and illustrated by Sophia Frizzell, is a children's picture book that revolves around the rejection of a peacock named Sai in his colony of wild peafowl. There isn't a single peacock that wants to hear Sai sing despite his love for it, and his significantly larger-than-normal beak makes him further stand out within the group. In fact, his big beak is ridiculed and viewed with disgust, and even Sai's mother has difficulty seeing beyond her son's perceived fault. Sai leaves the group so that he can sing out of hearing range and avoid annoying his fellow peacocks, but when a cricket hears the bird's song, Sai's life as an outcast begins to change.

The illustrations by Sophia Frizzell are easily among the best I've seen and are, hands down, the genuine star of Introducing Sai the Peacock. They are presented in full spread and vibrant jewel tones that sing off the page. Simply put, they are absolutely stunning. My youngest reader's tiny fingers would linger on the page in a silent request to allow her some extra time to take in the artwork. That is how brilliant an artist Sophia Frizzell is. The story itself is a good one and the lyrical method of storytelling makes for a fun read. There was some confusion on why Sai's mother and the other female peafowl had the same royal blue plumage and body as her son, given that peahens have dusty, earth-toned bodies in real life. I really liked the metaphor employed after Sai reaches celebrity status where his beak appeared smaller and its link to how a mindset that only sees the negative will shift when they learn to appreciate the positive even if nothing physical about Sai changed. Overall, this is an excellent little book with a wonderful message and we are pleased to add it to our bedtime routine. Very highly recommended.

The Unique Beak, written by Estani Frizzell and illustrated by Sophia Frizzell, is a children's picture book centered around a peacock named Sai who loves to sing. Sai does not look like any of the other peacocks because of the size of his beak, which is significantly larger than any other beaks in the flock. As a result, none of the peacocks will give Sai a chance to sing, which is his passion, and when they finally do he is roundly put down even by his own mother. Sai is upset but continues to sing on his own away from the flock. One night he is heard singing by a cricket who is able to see beyond Sai's beak to the talent he has. They become friends and from that point on everything changes for Sai, including the way he is viewed and received by the other peacocks.

The Unique Beak by Estani Frizzell follows the familiar theme of finding beauty where others might not think it exists due to the artificial social construct that beauty is conformity. The prose is written in a lyrical format that is fun, although the rhythm can be bumpy on occasion, and not everyone will be comfortable with the message of Sai being embraced back into the fold of the flock only after he becomes internationally famous. Still, it's a cute little story and as is the case with almost all children's picture books, the star is truly the illustrations. Sophia Frizzell is an exceptionally talented artist whose use of a vivid jewel-toned palette against a gorgeously textured backdrop is sublime. My youngest reader's little fingers lingered on the page on more than one occasion so that she can take in the illustrations just a moment longer, and I found her the next morning, on her own, taking in the artwork all over again. Come for the story, stay for the beautiful illustrations. Recommended.

The Unique Beak by Estani Frizzell follows the kind young peacock Sai. He lives with his royal family, and brilliant blue feathers coat his tail. He would make every regal peacock proud were it not for his beak. He loves to sing, but everyone makes fun of his voice, saying his beak is too big. Will he overcome the criticism and do what he loves?

The Unique Beak by Estani Frizzell is an outstanding book for children. First, it has a powerful message. It tackles the fear of being different and how society usually treats those who do not fit the mold. Aside from that, it also exhibits an achievable strength for expressing yourself as you are, despite what everyone may say or judge you. This book also shows that to achieve said strength, you might need help. You do not have to do everything on your own. It is ok to need and receive (and even ask for) support. This message is displayed appropriately for children and Frizzell writes in a language that is easy to read.

The rhymes that fill the book provide a rhythm that enhances the story, resulting in a musicality that is hard to ignore. The written text is in a font that children can read comfortably: not too small nor overwhelmingly big. Vivid illustrations accompany the text. Not only are they stunning and visually attractive, but they also illustrate the story and enhance comprehension. This book teaches friendship, bravery, and forgiveness. It is a good read for children to have at a young age.