A peachick wants to grow up to be like his brothers in fox's picture book. when peachick julian hatches under a banyan tree, he longs to keep pace with his brothers. he's too small for games of birdie in the middle and kick the coconut. he's too unsteady to fly and too soft-spoken to make shrill bird calls. each time he feels smaller than everyone else, he retreats to the banyan tree's comfort, where his mother reminds him, "julian, you are wonderful. you'll bloom when you're ready." when the seasons change and his brothers fly away, julian must step up in a moment of crisis. in this simple, beautiful fable, the author aptly presents a peacock's developmental journey as a metaphor for growth, beginning with julian's genuine longing to mature and ending with him realizing his potential. bailey's illustrations, with their muted colors, accentuate the narrative's gentle theme while appealing to a young audience--especially those who might be smaller in stature or longing to grow like their bigger siblings, neighbors, or friends.