The Rainbow Flamingo

An effervescent picture book all about celebrating difference and embracing the real you, Rainbow Flamingo tells the story of a bird who struggles to keep her true colours hidden.

Perfect for children aged 3 and up, Rainbow Flamingo, illustrated by Claire, was the winner of the Calderdale Library Picture Book of the Year Award 2025, and one of Toppsta’s ‘100 Must-Read Children’s Books of 2024’ as voted by young readers.

Explore the book below!

Illustration of two pink flamingos with finery, one with a peacock crest, standing on one leg and facing each other, with a white background.

About the book

Colorful children's book cover titled "The Rainbow Flamingo" by Catherine Emmett and Claire Powell, featuring a pink flamingo with rainbow-colored wings surrounded by multicolored confetti. There's a gray circle in the top right corner indicating it won the 2025 Caldecade Library Picture Book of the Year.

The Rainbow Flamingo

Adele longs to fit in with the other flamingos and wishes her feathers were pink just like theirs!

But as the flamingos prepare to perform in the fabulous Flamboyance show, Adele begins to discover that standing out isn’t so bad after all. This heart-warming story will show children the pride and joy that can be found in being yourself.

Published by Simon and Schuster
ISBN Number: 9781471181726

Buy from:

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Find your local indie

Take a peek inside!

A cartoon pink flamingo with a surprised expression, adorned with hanging onions and garlic, standing with some on the ground, under a string of garlic and onion bulbs.
Colorful illustration of a treehouse built among lush green and pink flowering plants, with a yellow ladder leading up to it and clothes hanging on a line outside. A pink bird is standing on the ground near the tree.
A whimsical drawing of a pink flamingo with a cactus on its head, standing in a basket filled with prickly pears cactus fruits.
Two animated flamingos with exaggerated features, one wearing a blue polka dot headscarf and large hoop earrings, appear to be interacting in a humorous, cartoonish style. There is a potted plant with a banana and red flowers in the foreground.
Illustration of multiple pink flamingos with various accessories on their heads, standing and interacting in a whimsical style.
Colorful illustration of a pink flamingo with rainbow-colored wings, standing among scattered striped beach chairs, umbrellas, shrimp, and a sign that says 'Shrimp Menu'.
Colorful illustration of pink flamingos sitting at tables with baskets of fried shrimp, some wearing accessories such as glasses and a sombrero, in a tropical setting with green foliage.
Colorful illustration of flamingos wearing hats, sunglasses, and accessories, some with musical instruments, standing near a bright yellow tree with an 'Entrance' sign, surrounded by palm leaves, confetti, and a sandy ground.
Colorful illustration of flying pink flamingos with rainbow-colored wings performing acrobatics above a crowd of pink flamingos on the ground, with multicolored confetti and a soft yellow background.

  • “Gorgeous book for little ones. This book is beautiful and heart-warming - and GREAT to read out loud. A must for anyone who has a small child in their life!”

    Louie Stowell
    Children’s author

  • "10/10! I looooved it! I love the flamingos. I really liked it because at the end she faced her fear, because at the beginning she thought she couldn't do it. And she was so beautiful, and I'm so happy that she wasn't alone and her mum said she still loved her. How did they make the book because it's so lovely!"

    Alfie
    Reader, aged 7

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