Archie the Daredevil Penguin

by Andy Rash, Andy Rash (Illustrator)

Overview

Gadzooks! Archie the Daredevil Penguin is hiding a dark secret: he’s afraid of the water and the creatures who lurk in the briny deep! And it’s keeping him from attending the fish fry on Iceberg Nine.

But penguins aren’t supposed to be afraid of water, especially not daredevil penguins. He musn’t let his friends know! 

Can Archie find a way to soar above the clouds and stay out of the sea?  

Author-illustrator Andy Rash has created a hilarious, perfectly paced story about overcoming fear by diving in headfirst. Fans of Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds will especially flip for the loveable Archie.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780698168114
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/08/2015
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	72 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Andy Rash (www.rashworks.com) was born on a mountain top in Tennessee, educated in the swamps of Georgia and the canyons of New York, and now lives with his family in Milwaukee. In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, Andy has illustrated for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Entertainment Weekly and The New Yorker.

Editorial Reviews

06/22/2015
Archie the penguin may have “climbed Mount Nosebleed all the way to the top” and fearlessly “tiptoed through the Leopard Seal Bunks,” but heading over to nearby Iceberg Nine for a fish fry is giving him pause. “I mustn’t let those penguins know that I am afraid of the water and the strange creatures who lurk in the briny deep,” thinks Archie as he puts the final touches on his Elasto-Launch catapult. “I think Archie might be afraid of the water and the strange creatures who lurk in the briny deep,” whispers one penguin, who has perhaps seen one too many of Archie’s invented flying machines fail. Similarly deadpan moments pop up throughout, and Rash (Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish) illustrates the slapstick action in bold cartoons whose bright colors, clean shapes, and slightly weathered-looking backgrounds feel simultaneously contemporary and retro. Panel sequences keep the story moving briskly—during an especially nifty one, Rash uses arrow-shaped panels to trace Archie’s underwater barrel rolls as he conquers his fear of swimming—and the joke-heavy dialogue should make this a read-aloud winner. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR ARCHIE THE DAREDEVIL PENGUIN:

"A read-aloud winner." —Publishers Weekly 

"Silly and charming." —Kirkus Reviews

"Kids will laugh at Archie’s flying flops and cheer when he conquers his fear. Pair with Peter Brown’s Flight of the Dodo." —Booklist

From the Publisher

02/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—Archie is a daredevil. Every other penguin in the colony knows about his exciting inventions and his feats of strength and bravery. What many of those penguins don't realize is that while Archie may be a daredevil, he has one very large fear: he'll do anything to avoid the water and the strange creatures who lurk in the briny deep. When Archie is dunked into the ocean and then swallowed by a whale, he finds that swimming can actually be fun. And those "strange" creatures give him supportive advice instead of eating him up. Rash tells this tale through comic book panels and dialogue. This choice suits Archie's story perfectly. While the penguins in the colony look up to Archie, it isn't until he faces his fear that he really becomes part of the community. And all of the marine life support him—there's lots of cheering from everyone (including the hilarious mayor) for each invention. This book has saturated, vivid color in the panels. There is lots of action, energy, and sound effects to make this a fun and engrossing read-aloud. VERDICT A sure-to-be popular choice with a great deal of humor in it.—Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ

School Library Journal

2015-06-06
Archie's fearless and daring adventures have earned him the congratulations and admiration of the other penguins. He has climbed to the summit of Mount Nosebleed and tobogganed through Craggy Pass. Now he is intent on inventing a method for flying. He tries a giant slingshot, wings made from borrowed feathers, and a portable rocket, but all are spectacular failures. His escapades serve to hide his secret: he cannot swim and is terrified of the water and the creatures that live in the ocean, and he is even more fearful that the other penguins will find out and think less of him. It all climaxes when he is hurled into the ocean and swallowed by an orca. He uses his ingenuity to escape, and the other sea creatures help him to swim to safety. All ends happily as he becomes more than adept at swimming and discovers he really loves it. The tale is told in a modified comic-book format with dialogue bubbles and delightful use of onomatopoeia—"boing," "oof," "whump"—to add to the fun. Rash's brilliantly hued full- and half-page panels keep the action moving and highlight Archie's antics and the various reactions of his friends. Throughout it all Archie is earnest and good-natured, and his penguin buddies are completely encouraging and supportive as he overcomes his fears. Silly and charming. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews