Feathers in a Flap is a happy-ending children's story about a man and the colorful birds in his back yard. The birds in the story are afraid of the man and believe that he is mean, though this is not at all true. In fact, the man loves having the birds in his life, and he, indeed, has a very happy spirit. He cares for his bird neighbors constantly by setting out food and water. However, the birds ignore the man's offerings. He is perplexed by this and often appears sad as a result. As the story continues, the reader sees how this misperception evolves. A mischievous character, with his "feathers in a flap," is not only the problem, but, through very unexpected circumstances, also the solution to everyone getting along. Feathers in a Flap, in a thoughtful and richly illustrated way, incorporates important life lessons: the ripple effect of lying; judging people (or things) by appearance alone; and finally, respecting the cohabitants in our lives.