A Snow Day for Plum!

By Matt Phelan

“Lively fun with animal friends.”—Kirkus Reviews

The animals of the Athensville Zoo are thrilled to be visiting a local school to star in a presentation—everyone except for a very nervous peacock named Plum. And then an unexpected blizzard strands the animals at the elementary school overnight—yikes! From award-winning author Matt Phelan, creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs and its two sequels, this companion to Leave It to Plum! is a highly illustrated young middle grade novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere.

The animals of the Athensville Zoo are going to school! Lizzie the zookeeper has Plum the peacock and his friends loaded in the zoo van to travel to a nearby elementary school to give a presentation. Most of the animals are excited—especially Itch, who has always wanted to share his knowledge with the world. But Plum is nervous. What if he doesn’t like school? What if the students don’t like him? What if he messes up the whole presentation?

Then an unexpected blizzard derails the whole trip, and Plum and his friends have to stay overnight in the empty school. They’ll meet new friends, such as the classroom mice who rule the school, and the wise old turtle who supervises the library. And when Itch gets himself into a whole snowdrift of trouble, Plum overcomes his nerves to save the day!

With short chapters and humorous black-and-white art throughout, award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan’s young middle grade novels about bighearted Plum the peacock and the Athensville Zoo are just right for newly independent readers. The Plum books are fun and funny adventures that tackle relatable emotional themes such as performance anxiety and being a good friend. A Snow Day for Plum! continues the hilarious adventures of the young peacock with a big heart and the small mammal with a big ego. A Snow Day for Plum! is perfect for fans of the Princess in Black and the Mercy Watson series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Feb 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063079229

Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan's many books include the popular picture book Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle and the innovative graphic novel The Storm in the Barn, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award. He lives in Philadelphia. Visit him online at mattphelan.com.  

Book preview

Chapter One

The Traveling Athensville Zoo

Plum the peacock sat still and quiet. He was usually pretty peppy. His friends at the Athensville Zoo would say he was cheerful and chatty. But this morning, Plum did not feel like his usual peppy, cheerful, chatty self. Plum felt a little bit—just a little bit—scared.

Isn’t this exciting? asked Meg.

Plum and Meg sat in individual peacock cages. Next to them were cages that contained Kevin, a giant elephant shrew (not giant, nor an elephant); Jeremy, a former street cat, now happily owned by Lizzie the zookeeper; Myrna, a colorful parrot; and Itch, a ningbing (small mammal, unusual in many ways).

‘Exciting’ is too mild a word, said Itch. ‘Thrilling,’ perhaps. Is there a word that aptly describes the sensation of fulfilling one’s destiny?

Nausea? asked Kevin, who was feeling a little wobbly in the belly.

You see, these fine animals of the Athensville Zoo were not, in fact, at the zoo. They were bouncing along in the back of a zoo van. They were on their way to visit Romeburg Elementary School.

Just think, said Itch, in less than an hour, I shall be lecturing eager young minds about the great wonders of the animal kingdom!

I think Lizzie is actually doing the lecturing part, said Meg.

Perhaps—dare I dream?—I will use the SMART Board! said Itch, ignoring Meg.

Maybe the visit will be canceled, said Plum in a small voice.

Canceled? said Itch. Why on earth would it be canceled?

Well, said Plum a bit louder, I think the school might soon be buried in snow.

The others followed Plum’s gaze out the van’s back windows. The sky was heavy and gray, and large snowflakes were falling.

Pshaw! said Itch. It is nothing but a flurry.

Squawk, said Myrna, who never used actual words of any kind, animal or human.

Lizzie the zookeeper, who was driving the van, tuned the radio to a news station. An announcer’s voice came through the static.

. . . the sudden snowstorm has taken us all by surprise. Well, that’s weather nowadays for you! Snow accumulation could be . . . let’s see what this note says . . . intense? No. Immense, I think. Anyway, it looks like we’re getting a lot of snow today. Stay put and stay safe!

Reviews for A Snow Day for Plum!

[blbooks-14314 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First sentence: Plum the peacock sat still and quiet. He was usually pretty peppy. His friends at the Athensville Zoo would say he was cheerful and chatty. But this morning, Plum did not feel like his usual peppy, cheerful, chatty self. Plum felt a little bit—just a little bit—scared.Premise/plot: A handful of zoo animals--including Plum--are on their way to a local school for a presentation. The good news: they arrive at the school safely. The bad news: an unexpected snow storm leads to school--and the presentation--being canceled. The good news: there are friendly school mice to let the animals out of their cages. The bad news: Things get VERY hectic throughout the day. Plenty of misadventures and adventures occur when the animals are essentially running amok throughout the school without human supervision....My thoughts: I really LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the first book in the series, Leave It To Plum. I thought it was such a fun animal fantasy. This sequel is all kinds of fun. I liked revisiting Plum. Plum is out of his element in this one. The school is not at all like Athensville Zoo where he (and the other peacocks) are ambassadors. The book was so entertaining. It was just a hoot. I didn't know how much I needed a sequel to Leave It To Plum.