The story of Diva and Flea

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Diva, a small yet brave dog, and Flea, a curious streetwise cat, develop an unexpected friendship in this unforgettable tale of discovery.

For as long as she could remember, Diva lived at 11 avenue Le Play in Paris, France. For as long as he could remember, Flea also lived in Paris, France--but at no fixed address. When Flea flâneurs past Diva's courtyard one day, their lives are forever changed. Together, Diva and Flea explore and share their very different worlds, as only true friends can do.

Author Notes

Mo Willems was born on February 11, 1968. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School for the Arts, he spent a year traveling around the world drawing a cartoon every day, which were published in the book You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons. For nine seasons, he worked as a writer and animator for PBS' Sesame Street, where he received 6 Emmy Awards for his writing. During this time, he also served as a weekly commentator for BBC Radio and created two animated series, Nickelodeon's The Off-Beats and Cartoon Network's Sheep in the Big City.

While working as head writer for Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door, he began writing and drawing books for children. He received three Caldecott Honor Awards for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! in 2004; Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale in 2005; and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity in 2008. He also created the Elephant and Piggie series for Easy Readers, which were awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009.

His drawings, wire sculptures, and ceramics have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the nation. Occasionally he serves as the Radio Cartoonist for NPR's All Things Considered. He voices and produces animated cartoons based on his books with Weston Woods studios. The animated Knuffle Bunny was awarded Best Film during the New York International Children's Film Festival in 2008 and received the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2007. His title Happy Pig Day made Publisher's Weekly Best Seller List for 2011. In 2012 his title Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs made The New York Times Best Seller List. In 2013 his titles: That is Not a Good Idea!, Let's Go for a Drive! and I'm a Frog! made the New York Times Best Seller List. In 2014 The Pigeons Need a Bath! and Waiting Is Not Easy! made the New York Times Best Seller List.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (6)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Inspired by a real-life dog and cat Willems met during a stay in Paris, this tender friendship story traces the developing rapport between Diva, a small dog who takes seriously the job of guarding her home on 11 avenue le Play, and a roving black cat named Flea. Flea considers himself a flaneur, one who "has seen everything, but still looks for more, because there is always more to discover," as Willems explains. He sets the story over several acts, complete with two intermissions ("le premier entracte" and "le deuxième entracte"), as Diva cautiously ventures out to see the wonders beyond her courtyard and Flea learns that a home can be a lovely thing (and that not all brooms are made for swatting at stray cats). Dabbed with greens and reds, DiTerlizzi's elegant images of Parisian landmarks, handsome buildings, and the feisty interactions between Diva and Flea make the story feel instantly fit for translation to the big screen, and may have some adult readers checking airfares. Ages 6-8. Author's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt Agency. Illustrator's agency: Gotham Group. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Horn Book Review

Willems's amiable chapter book introduces us to the sweet friendship between Diva, a tiny "guard" dog in a Paris apartment building, and Flea, a wandering city cat, or flbneur. DiTerlizzi's bright, expressive animal faces and elegant rendering of Paris, combined with an attractive, refined book design, elevate this simple but appealing story of bravery and trust. Author and illustrator notes are appended. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Diva is a tiny white dog who lives in a grand, old apartment building in Paris, France. As the pet of the building's gardienne, she patrols the courtyard, making sure that all is well. Flea, on the other hand, is a large cat who roams Paris' streets. He is a great flâneur someone (or somecat) who . . . has seen everything, but still looks for more, because there is always something more to discover. One day Flea's flâneur-ing takes him past Diva's courtyard, and the two strike up a friendship. Diva, who is skittish and has never traveled, loves hearing of Flea's adventures, particularly the one about the tower so tall and so pointy that it could cut a cloud in half. Eventually, Flea suggests that Diva go wandering with him, and after some gentle encouragement, Diva takes her first brave steps beyond the courtyard. In return, Diva takes Flea inside her apartment, introducing him to a friendly broom that won't swat cats and the miraculous occurrence known as breakfast. Willems has written a story with winning characters and bursting with tender charm, which is further amplified by DiTerlizzi's expressive, vintage-style illustrations. Humor and sincerity walk paw in paw through this simple chapter book, inspiring exploration, bravery, and making friends. Be warned: excessive smiling may occur while reading. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Willems and DiTerlizzi are a children's book dream team. Stock up!--Smith, Julia Copyright 2015 Booklist

New York Review of Books Review

Life's pretty great for Pepper, a fluff-ball gray house cat who has eyes like lime-green saucers and firm personal boundaries. Then his owner gives him a young companion, and it all goes south. The kitten tumbles around, making a mess. Only when the two collude to blame it on a mellow-looking dog can the cats be friends. It's a perfectly paced little tale, and Preston-Gannon composes each page with geometric precision, setting her charismatic pets against a sleek black background. MR. POSTMOUSE'S ROUNDS Written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc. 32 pp. Kids Can Press. $17.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) Picture a trip through a Richard Scarry-like workaday community gone bananas. The latest brilliance from Dubuc ("The Lion and the Bird") features a chipper gray mouse dutifully pulling his wagon to make deliveries to a roster of creatures including bats, octopuses, dragons and yetis. Their dwellings teem with delicately detailed secret passageways, underground bunkers, Rube Goldberg contraptions and clever references to fairy tales. The deadpan prose lets the visuals steal the show. MOUSETROPOLIS Written and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. 32 pp. Holiday House. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) Christie's snappy reimagining of "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse" gorgeously celebrates both travel and home, with graceful-looking mice whose oversize ears somehow make them seem soulful. With rich emerald hills and mysterious black trees, the country is serene and inviting, but it's hard to argue with the city's liveliness: There's "lots to eat" and "music and dancing everywhere," including a knockout spread of hip, joyful mice dancing to a boombox in a subway station. MUMMY CAT By Marcus Ewert. Illustrated by Lisa Brown. 48 pp. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 5 to 9) Egyptology takes a Halloween-friendly turn in this winning rhymed tale of a cat once owned by a girl-queen called Hatshup-set. We meet him as a rather cute mummy, awake to check if "his loving friend" has come back. He wanders forlornly, looking at painted scenes of his life with the queen and her horrid death by scorpion bite. Brown's tableaus are dynamic and lovely, with a sinister plot playing out in the background. There are hieroglyphics to decode, too, and a key at the end. THE STORY OF DIVA AND FLEA By Mo Willems. Illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi. 69 pp. Hyperion. $14.99. (Early chapter book; ages 5 to 8) Willems departs from his beloved, angsty Elephant and Piggie early readers with this lighthearted valentine to Paris, handsomely illustrated by DiTerlizzi. Diva is a small, proud dog who guards - or so she believes - a grand apartment building. Her orderly world is rocked by Flea, a street cat who's a dedicated flâneur. Together they stroll the city, helping each other overcome certain embarrassing limitations. Each brief chapter charms, topped off with a cameo by Willems at the end. ONLINE An expanded visual presentation of this week's column at nytimes.com/books.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-4-Flea is a flâneur, an alley cat happy to take the world as it comes, seeking out new adventures every day. Diva is a pampered pooch who lives at the 11 avenue La Play apartment building. Laid back Flea is out and about on one of his adventures when he spies Diva. While initially apprehensive about this cat who comes and goes, Diva grows curious about Flea. One day, with his encouragement, she cautiously ventures beyond the wrought iron fence that frames her world and follows the feline to see the tower that can "cut a cloud in half." When she in turn invites him to explore her world inside the apartment, he is the one who must be trustful and brave. The occasional French word or chapter title paired with DiTerlizzi's gorgeous illustrations work together to create an appropriately Parisian feel throughout. The charming endpapers, ornate chapter heading designs, and rich paper feel further extend the visual and tactile appeal of this work. With a message that facing fear and getting to know someone new will open one's world, young readers will find much to love about Diva and Flea. VERDICT An excellent addition to chapter book collections.-Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

A large cat and a small dog strike up an unlikely friendship in this early chapter book.Set in Parisa setting charmingly brought to life in DiTerlizzi's illustrationsthe book introduces readers to Flea and Diva. Flea is a large cat who is also a flneur: "someone (or somecat) who wanders the streets...of the city just to see what there is to see." Flea's flneur-ing is how he chances to discover Diva, a very small dog who guards the courtyard of the grand apartment building where she lives. At first Diva is afraid of Flea (as she is most things) and yelps and runs away. This makes Flea laugh, and he visits the courtyard daily. Eventually Diva strikes up the courage to ask Flea if he enjoys hurting her feelings, and Flea feels ashamed. The two become friends. Clever plot twists are woven into the storyline, as is the occasional French word, including the chapter headings. Willems' adroit storytelling is on display as Flea encourages Diva to try flneur-ing herself and helps her overcome her fear of feet, while Diva encourages Flea to try indoor living complete with regular Breck-Festa novelty in Flea's scavenging street lifeand helps him overcome his fear of brooms. The messageabout the value of trying new experiences and learning to trustlies lightly on this lively tale. (author's note, illustrator's note) (Animal fantasy. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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