Baby Penguins Everywhere! by Melissa Guion.  Ages 2 – 5. 28 pages. Philomel.  December 2012.  ISBN-13: 978-0399255359 Fiction. $16.99 Hardback out now. Board book $6.99 due out October 2013.

At a Glance:

A wonderfully-illustrated story of super-cute penguins playing + A gentle reminder that sometimes we all need a moment = Fantastic picture book!

Summary:

One day, while a penguin is sitting on the ice feeling peaceful but lonely, she spies a hat floating in the water.  To her surprise and delight a baby penguin pops out of the hat!  To her even greater surprise — more and more baby penguins keep popping out of the hat.

Copyright © by 2012 Melissa Guion. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Suddenly, this once-alone penguin is surrounded by baby penguins.  She becomes very busy and clearly enjoys being with the baby penguins.  However, it is exhausting!  She feels much better after taking a moment for herself.

It ends with a gentle reminder that everyone needs a bit of time to be alone and recollect, but certainly being together is much more fun.

Our Experience Reading this Book:

My whole family loves this book and we highly, highly recommend it.  

We’ve been reading this book regularly for the past month and my son loves it.  It is a joyful and gentle book that has an important message to it:  While it is wonderful to be with others, sometimes we all need a moment to ourselves.  

I was blown away when my son asked me a few hours after reading this book, “Mama, do you just need a moment?”  At that point, I did actually just need a moment, so I said so.  While my son was still awake, I got to sit down on the couch with a cup of coffee and finish it — while it was still hot.  (This may not sound like a big deal, but it is.)  When I finished my coffee, we resumed our day together.  It was amazing.  Now when I get frazzled or need to get something done, I tell my son that, “I need a moment.”  He understands and does a great job keeping himself occupied.

Picture books have taught my son (and me) a lot of great things and interesting facts, but to teach him that sometimes people need alone time is more than I ever expected from any picture book.  Baby Penguins Everywhere has actually changed the dynamic between my son and me for the better.

On top of that, it’s an absolutely beautifully illustrated book done in watercolor and pencil.  The colors are mainly white, blues, grays, and blacks with small dots and dashes of bright colors.  The contrast of the small bits of brightly colored objects to the whites, blues, grays, and blacks of the scenery and penguins gives it a wonderfully playful feeling.

The pictures are elegantly and clearly done and have given me and my son a lot of things to talk about ranging from top hats to juggling to tug-o-war.  It’s inspired some great discussions.

So, obviously, this book is a big deal our house.  I hope you get a chance to check it out and may it bring you a few minutes of peace, too.

Author/Illustrator Websites:

• Melissa Guion:  www.melissaguion.com
• Baby Penguins Everywhere Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/BabyPenguinsEverywhere

Some of Our Favorite Reviews of this Book:

• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/books/review/baby-penguins-everywhere-and-more.html?_r=0
  
• http://book4children.blogspot.com/2013/02/picture-book-review-and-giveaway-baby.html
• http://picturebookreviews.blog.com/2013/02/01/baby-penguins-everywhere/
• https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melissa-guion/baby-penguins-everywhere/
• http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-399-25535-9

Resources:

• World Penguin Day:  http://worldpenguinday.com/
• Would You Like Nothing but Penguins?  Here you go:  http://www.nothingbutpenguins.com/
• Would You Like To Learn How To Draw a Penguin from Oliver Jeffers?  http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/gallery/2011/jun/27/how-to-draw-penguins-oliver-jeffers#/?picture=375870801&index=0
• Worksheets, Crafts, Jigsaw Puzzles and More:  http://akidsheart.com/animals/birds/penguins.htm
• Youtube Video of Cute Baby Penguins:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OGGPP-mT8
• Youtube Video of a Baby Penguin Not Being Shy:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdmQ9nMkI-g

Where Obtained:   I received a review copy from the author.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”