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"Willems and DiTerlizzi are a children's book dream team."

—Booklist

The Story of Diva & Flea

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 flaneurs 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.

Published: October 13, 2015
Ages: 6-8
Format: Hardcover, 80 pages
Author: Mo Willems
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion Books for Children Purchase Info

Extras

Browse Art

Look inside the book with this gallery

Videos

Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi talk about the collaborative process

Making Of

Photo essay showing Tony's inspiration and process

Desktop Wallpaper

Download this wallpaper featuring Diva and Flea!

Praise

"★ 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."
—Booklist

"★ 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. An excellent addition to chapter book collections."
—School Library Journal

"Willems departs from his beloved, angsty Elephant and Piggie early readers with this lighthearted valentine to Paris, handsomely illustrated by DiTerlizzi. . . . Each brief chapter charms."
—The New York Times Book Review

"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."
—Publishers Weekly

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Tony DiTerlizzi: Never abandon imagination.

Imagination is a world of possibility that exists within each of us. It is what makes us uniquely human. It is our creative fingerprint that touches and influences the world around us. Imagination is essential to art and science; to innovation and prosperity. It gives us hope, calls us to action and leads to change.

Whether it’s fairies, dragons, robots or aliens, all of my children’s book characters are siblings born of my imagination – an imagination strengthened through years of encouragement from family, teachers and friends. While so many others abandoned it during their transition from childhood to adulthood, I fiercely held onto mine, hoping for a day when I could share it to inspire the next generation of dreamers. Innovators. World changers.

Imagination empowers us to envision and create a reality of what could be. We must hold it dear, foster it and never abandon it.