ARCHIE THE DAREDEVIL PENGUIN

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.