School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2
A playful and lightly informative look at the life of penguins. Children will love the upbeat rhyming text: "You could fly underwater/or sing a duet/You could live on land/but get really wet." The lively gouache and watercolor illustrations feature 10 different species of adult and young penguins engaged in mostly naturalistic activities. The spreads are eye-catching and fun. The use of both soft and sharp shapes and colors brings out the harshness and warmth of the penguin communities. This delightful book will naturally lead to one-on-one conversations and group discussions, as will the ending, "Penguins do lots of things/that you can do too!" It's a perfect introduction for a unit on penguins or wildlife that live in both temperate and Antarctic waters, as well as an excellent storytime addition. Helpful back matter includes fun facts, easy identification of the different species, and some good Web sites.-Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY
Kirkus Reviews
The second from this husband-and-wife team (Christmas Tree!, 2005) explores the many things that penguins can do and suggests to readers that they can also share in these activities. For instance, penguins swim, sing duets, wear tuxedos and make funny faces. "If you were a penguin . . . / You could live underground / or on top of the ice. / Penguin pals all around / make it twice as nice!" Full-bleed paintings fill the pages with huge, realistic close-ups of many different species of penguins. Rhymes that start strong in the beginning weaken toward the end, steering the story rather than serving it. While the text falls flat, it does give illustrator Minor a window of opportunity for some clever images that readers will remember long after the words are forgotten. Backmatter includes lists of fun facts and websites to consult for further information as well as an identification key for all the species featured. Not a standout as either a rhyming picture book or a beginning nonfiction title about penguins. (Picture book. 3-7)
From the Publisher
Wendell’s vibrant large-scale figures, set against bracing polar landscapes, have enough personality to captivate a crowd.” — ALA Booklist
“A playful and lightly informative look at the life of penguins...an excellent storytime addition.” — School Library Journal
ALA Booklist
Wendell’s vibrant large-scale figures, set against bracing polar landscapes, have enough personality to captivate a crowd.
