Thank you to Mulamu Publishing - Neo Pacifica Recordings | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, the author and NetGalley for both the DRC and LRC in return for an honest review

This is a multimedia project - book, audiobook, e-book and animated short film conceived, written and narrated by Diane Arkenstone., with illustrator Anja Silbar, director and sound designer Wesley Price, animator Isaac David Quesada and composer Daniel Cimo.

Having read the e-book, listened to the audiobook (narrated by the author) and watched the short animation (available on vimeo ) and the behind the scenes trailer, I can honestly say this is a delightful story, with colourful images, set to beautiful original music.

I have only one qualm - given that this book is aimed at 3-5 year olds, I cannot fathom the use of the word epiphany! There is no way a child of that age is going to be able to understand this word.

#TheRobeofRainbowFeathers #NetGalley

I really enjoyed The Robe of Rainbow Feathers. It begins with a lovely sense of wonder—bright colors, nature, gentle friendships, and the innocence of early life. The message about embracing beauty, kindness, and peaceful moments amidst a complex world is powerful and feels appropriate, especially for young readers.

What works particularly well:

The illustrations are vivid and striking; they draw you in and make the natural world feel alive, which enhances the emotional resonance of the story.

The tone in the early chapters is comforting and hopeful—it provides a solid foundation of love, curiosity, and growth.

The way the author introduces difficult themes—aging, fear, loss—is handled with gentleness, which is commendable in a book for children.

What some readers (or parents) might find challenging:

The ending includes death and grief in a way that could be hard for sensitive little ones. Depending on the age group, children may need support from an adult to process those moments.

Although the beginning and middle build up beautifully, the transition into the more somber themes is somewhat sudden, and it may feel emotionally heavy relative to the gentle lead-in.

Overall, The Robe of Rainbow Feathers is a meaningful book with a strong message and beautiful artwork. It’s especially suited for children who are ready to explore ideas of loss and kindness, or for read-alouds with parents or caregivers ready to guide those conversations. I finished feeling that the book’s heart is in the right place, even if the ending might sting for some

*** I received this audiobook as an ARC via NetGalley. There is only a Kindle version listed here, so I am writing this review under that edition. My receiving of the ARC via NetGalley does not influence my review.***

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As a children’s book / multimedia project, The Robe of Rainbow Feathers explores children discovering realities in life and how they choose to process them.

As a young child, around the age I was when I lost my Nana, our main character learns of war and other dangers- realities we all wish children did not need to be exposed to. She tends to a garden and takes care of local wildlife, carefully observing her environment and the way things work.

Initially she is very saddened by the change in perspective and eventually she gets sick. After a time she improves and chooses to see the beauty in the world, continuing to tend to her garden.

The story follows her all the way to the end of her life as an older woman, loved by many including the wildlife she cared for.

I am marking this review as spoilers- it is an incredibly short children’s story, so it is hard to talk about without spoiling a significant margin of the contents. There is an animated film collaboration that should be available if the audiobook isn’t available to you.

I loved this story. I recently lost my father and have found myself back in the pit of grief I was in when my Nana passed nearly 20 years ago. It was comforting if only for a few minutes to listen to The Robe of Rainbow Feathers. The only thing I’d advise is that the audio balancing does need slightly tweaked- the gorgeous violins etc in the background sometimes slightly overpower the clear narration.

The Robe of Rainbow Feathers earns 5 stars. Hard to rate a book so short but it does a great job at exploring the intended topic.