A beautifully illustrated and appealing animal tale that underscores defying odds and helping others.
A determined penguin fulfills an unlikely dream in this illustrated children’s book.
Ingrid, a penguin, wishes she could fly and is excited when she meets New York City pigeons Sue and Lenny in Antarctica. They encourage her to travel to a special place in upstate New York where she can learn how to glide. Ingrid boards a ship from Antarctica to New York City and takes the Staten Island Ferry into Manhattan, where she marvels at the busy streets and intriguing sites. Helpful critters assist her quest, including Lenny’s cousin Lou and a group of savvy rats at Penn Station who instruct her to hitch trains to “Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex.” There, Ingrid is inspired by a skilled human skier named Klaus. Ingrid asserts: “That man has no wings and he’s flying. If that man…can fly, so can I!” Klaus teaches Ingrid to ski, and she embraces her natural abilities. Although “her little wings might not work well for flapping and regular flying…they seemed to be perfect for helping her steer in the air off a ski jump.” Ingrid is proud of her progress and eventually returns to Antarctica. Utilizing her skills and experiences, she helps the penguin community solve a traffic issue. She proposes: “We build a jump that goes down to the sea. We use it to glide down and fly into the water….This will be much faster and more fun than waddling…With penguins gliding down one way on the jump and others walking back up.” She enthusiastically teaches the others how to fly through the water, and is proud to prove that penguins can soar after all. McDermott’s engaging story features commendable instances of following a passion, learning from new friends, and embracing rewarding challenges. Ingrid’s pursuit will motivate youngsters to consider their own aspirations. Readers will enjoy following along on Ingrid’s adventure, which is filled with amusing details like rats and pigeons who speak with New York accents. Anderson’s lovely illustrations offer realistic renderings that emphasize unusual textures, shades, and tones. The lifelike animal depictions, detailed buildings and streets, and recognizable sites like the Statue of Liberty are delightful additions.
A beautifully illustrated and appealing animal tale that underscores defying odds and helping others.Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-73335-485-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Notable Kids Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 31, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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