Penguin Problems - Softcover

Jory John; Lane Smith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1406379158 ISBN 13: 9781406379150

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, 2017

Synopsis

Little Penguin has problems: his beak is cold; there's snow everywhere; the water smells salty; he waddles; he looks the same as everybody else. No - it's not easy being a penguin! The New York Times called Penguin Problems both "funny and acerbic," the London Evening Standard declared it to be "hilarious," and the Observer proclaimed, "A philosophy manual for readers of all ages ... wonderfully original." In this hilarious first collaboration from Jory John and the multi-award winning Lane Smith, a penguin levels with human readers about what penguin life is really like ... and it isn't all fun and games! Have you ever considered running away to Antarctica? Of course you have! Because it's a land free of worries and responsibilities! Think again, my friend. This penguin has come to tell you that his life down there is no picnic. For starters, it is freezing. Also, penguins have loads of natural predators. Plus, can you imagine trying to find your mum in a big crowd of identical penguins? A feel-good read-aloud for readers of all ages, and the perfect Christmas gift.

About this title

About the Author

Jory John is the author of the picture books I Will Chomp You! and Quit Calling Me a Monster!, both illustrated by Bob Shea, and Goodnight Already! and I Love You Already!, illustrated by Benji Davies. He is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling novel, The Terrible Two, and the bestseller All My Friends Are Dead, among many other books. He lives in San Francisco, USA. Find Jory online at joryjohn.com and on Twitter as @joryjohn. Lane Smith has written and illustrated a number of novels and picture books for children, including two Caldecott Honor titles, Grandpa Green and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Stories. He was a 2014 recipient of a Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award and was named an Honor Artist by the Eric Carle Museum. He lives with his wife, book designer Molly Leach, in Connecticut, USA. Find Lane online at lanesmithbooks.com.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—It's not easy being a penguin. As a world-weary avian narrator points out, there's plenty that can (and does) go wrong: "My beak is cold." "It snowed some more last night, and I don't even like the snow." "The ocean smells too salty today." An even chillier fishing expedition does not improve his demeanor: "Oh, great. An orca. Oh, great. A leopard seal. Oh, great. A shark. What is it with this place?" Smith's sponge-textured illustrations expand upon the text's downbeat doldrums with visual humor and delightfully deadpan facial expressions. Still hungry, the penguin pulls out of the water just before being gulped down by the bigger seal (which is about to be consumed by the even larger shark, about to be swallowed by the huge orca). His melancholy monologue continues until a stately walrus catches his attention and delivers a wise (and lengthy and slightly bombastic) oration about appreciating the good things in life. Grudgingly, Penguin embraces a new perspective. He sits on a pristine peak, gazes at gracefully falling flurries, and muses, "Maybe things will work out, after all"—or not (the page turn reveals that the gentle snowflakes have turned into a full-fledged storm and Penguin has resumed his grousing). This sublime pairing of author and artist results in a rib-tickling exploration of what it means to look at the unsunny side. VERDICT Share this book with Claire Messer's Grumpy Pants for a storytime starring persnickety penguins.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1406379158
• ISBN 13: 9781406379150
• Binding: Paperback