Little Penguins

by Cynthia Rylant (Author) Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

Newbery Medal-winning author Cynthia Rylant and Caldecott Honor-winning, bestselling illustrator Christian Robinson pair up to tell this wintry story about five little penguins enjoying a snowy day.

Snowflakes? Many snowflakes. Winter is coming. So begins this ever-so-simple story. As the snow starts to fall, the excited penguins pull out scarves, mittens, heavy socks, and boots, and Mama helps them bundle up. But when it's time to go out, one timid penguin decides to stay home. Filled with waddling baby penguins, playful text, and delightful illustrations, this book feels like a young picture-book classic in the making.

"Visually stunning. . . . Pair with Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day." --Booklist, Starred

"An excellent tale for the very young. A very warm and satisfying bedtime book and a paean to penguins and winter delights." --Kirkus Reviews

Winners of the National Parenting Product Award
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

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ALA/Booklist

Starred Review
Caldecott Honor winners Rylant and Robinson collaborate in this visually stunning depiction of winter in Antarctica, but it's really about winter fun anywhere.

Kirkus

A very warm and satisfying bedtime book and a paean to penguins and winter delights.

Publishers Weekly

Five small penguins and their mother chill out in this playful, minimalist approach to winter. Rylant (the Mr. Putter and Tabby books) supplies only a few words per spread as the pointy-beaked penguins peek out of their blue-green igloo: "Snowflakes? Many snowflakes. Winter is coming!" The penguins call and respond as they gear up: "Mittens? Many mittens. And matching scarves. Socks? One for each foot!" Outfitted individually in red, blue, green, and white, four of the five sled and stomp until their mother and cautious yellow-scarfed sibling--sliding on their bellies--come out to collect them. Caldecott Honor-winner Robinson (Last Stop on Market Street) illustrates in cut paper and simple strokes of acrylic, envisioning the silhouette-black penguins as birdlike toddlers (or toddler-like birds). His snowflakes are shreds of white scattered on shades of blue, and captivating endpapers show walruses, a whale, gulls, and other wildlife. Visually and thematically reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats's beloved The Snowy Day, Rylant and Robinson's story warmly celebrates a parent's attentive presence amid an enticing winter backdrop. Ages 3-7. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS--Donning mittens, scarves, and boots, five little penguins ready themselves for a romp in the snow, then return inside to prepare for bed, with guidance from Mama. Robinson's utterly enchanting acrylic and collage illustrations, relying on blocky shapes, pair splendidly with Rylant's straightforward yet enthusiastic text, conveying the pure joy of a winter excursion as well as the simple pleasure of the familiar bedtime routine.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Rejoice! A classic picture book is hatched." —Shelf Awareness
Cynthia Rylant
Cynthia Rylant is a Newbery medalist and the author of many acclaimed books for young people. She is well known for her popular characters for early readers, including the classics Mr. Putter and Tabby and Henry and Mudge. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Arthur Howard created the lively illustrations for all of the Mr. Putter & Tabby books and has written and illustrated several picture books of his own. He lives in New York City.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781984830586
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
G
Publisher
Schwartz & Wade Books
Publication date
October 20, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV009100 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Seasons
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV002370 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Baby Animals
Library of Congress categories
Penguins
Winter

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