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Overview
If you were a penguin . . .
You could swim really fast and toboggan on ice.
Sing a happy duet, once or twice.
You could live on land but dive under the sea.
There's a lot penguins can do, just like you and me!
Wendell and Florence Minor create a charming tribute to all the playful fun and activity that comes with being a penguin—which young readers can delight in too!
Synopsis
If you were a penguin . . .
You could swim really fast and toboggan on ice.
Sing a happy duet, once or twice.
You could live on land but dive under the sea.
There's a lot penguins can do, just like you and me!
Wendell and Florence Minor create a charming tribute to all the playful fun and activity that comes with being a penguin which young readers can delight in too!
Children's Literature
"If you were a penguin, what could you do?" is the question answered in brief, informative rhymes that stretch across double pages filled with the active Antarctic varieties of penguins. They leap into the water, make funny faces, join groups of friends, and do "lots of things that you can do too!" The few words of text are set in large type and are more like captions. The illustrations depict the birds in naturalistic interactions that engage both esthetic sensibilities and curiosity about life in their snow-dominated world. Although the only characters are the various types of penguins, they are set in carefully composed scenes of interest. "Penguin Fun Facts" and websites are included. On the last page, small pictures of the 10 different kinds of penguins in the illustrations help identify them for the curious reader. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
Editorials
ALA Booklist
"Wendell’s vibrant large-scale figures, set against bracing polar landscapes, have enough personality to captivate a crowd."Children's Literature -
"If you were a penguin, what could you do?" is the question answered in brief, informative rhymes that stretch across double pages filled with the active Antarctic varieties of penguins. They leap into the water, make funny faces, join groups of friends, and do "lots of things that you can do too!" The few words of text are set in large type and are more like captions. The illustrations depict the birds in naturalistic interactions that engage both esthetic sensibilities and curiosity about life in their snow-dominated world. Although the only characters are the various types of penguins, they are set in carefully composed scenes of interest. "Penguin Fun Facts" and websites are included. On the last page, small pictures of the 10 different kinds of penguins in the illustrations help identify them for the curious reader. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia MarantzSchool 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