She is the author of the Caldecott Honorwinning Flora and the Flamingo as well as its companions, Flora and the Penguin and Flora and the Peacocks, among other picture books.She lives in Tempe, Arizona. It’s seamless and dynamic visual storytelling. Molly Idle began her career as an artist working for DreamWorks Animation, and from there she leapt into the world of childrens books. There’s an undertone of a growing-up story, too, as Flora almost seems to shed childhood self-consciousness and take her first tentative steps into womanhood. Inset flaps add drama by revealing new poses, and Idle’s crisp, confident drafting produces a reading experience akin to flipping through a series of animation cells. Her newest book is the magical, Witch Hazel.

She’s also the creator of the Tea Rex series, and the mermaid tales, Pearl, and Coral.

A series of stumbles draws a sharp reaction from the flamingo and a sulk from Flora, but the flamingo relents and the two collaborate on a graceful duet that ends with a joyous flourish. Molly Idle is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor-winning picture book Flora and the Flamingo, and all of the stories featuring Flora and her fine feathered friends. At first, Flora models her movements on the flamingo’s, unbeknownst to the bird. The call-and-response nature of their dance-the flamingo poses in a series of sinuous movements on the left, Flora does her awkward best to mimic them on the right-produces a series of beautifully lighthearted tableaus. Without providing a backstory for the eponymous pair’s curious meeting, Idle (Nighty Night, Noah) imagines a wordless encounter between a lithe, sultry flamingo and a pudgy little girl in a bathing suit, swim cap, and flippers.

Flora and the flamingo by molly idle