Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups

August 1, 2015
A penguin with the hiccups exhorts readers to help him cure his problem. First-time author/illustrator Bentley jumps on the interactive bandwagon with the fanciful tale of an anthropomorphic penguin. Staring out at and addressing readers directly, the small penguin offers a friendly hello and makes cryptic mention of another character ("Franklin said you would be here soon"). He then launches into his tale of woe: a bowl (or several) of chili has given him a case of the hiccups that he just can't shake. After trying a series of silly remedies suggested by his penguin friends, he asks readers to shout "Boo!" The first try doesn't work, so a second, louder effort is solicited and seems to help. But the ultimate cure will come as a surprise to listeners-and may startle them more than a little. Hand-drawn, digitally colored illustrations offer occasional hints of the coming plot twist, but for the most part they merely reflect the text. Cartoon-style penguins, simply drawn ovals with large eyes and blobby yellow toes, are pictured against an interestingly textured blue and white world of water and ice. A somewhat static feel to the art works against the effort to engage listeners, as does a main character who is just a shade too generic. Like the readers' shouts, this is not quite strong enough to do the trick. (Picture book. 4-7)

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December 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 1-Goofy-looking Little Penguin has a bad case of the hiccups. It seems that they started the night he had chili, and now he needs help from readers. Breaking the fourth wall, hiccuping and talking directly to the audience, Little Penguin sums up what he's tried so far. His friend, Frederick, told him to stand on his head. Chester told him to drink backward from a cup. Albert suggested standing on his head while drinking backward from a cup. Total failure. So, Little Penguin appeals to the audience: "I NEED YOU TO SCARE ME." He asks readers to count to three and shout "BOO!" Unfortunately, the hiccups remain. This time, readers are asked to be even louder. "Will I have the hiccups forever?" laments Little Penguin. "SHOUT! GO CRAZY!" he tells readers. And with a big ROAR, aided by his friend Franklin the whale, the hiccups finally stop. They are so happy that they want to celebrate-with spicy tacos. This humorous title is illustrated in pen and ink and colored digitally. VERDICT Children will love the audience participation and the chance to get noisy during storytime. A fine addition for most collections.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

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September 15, 2015
Preschool-G Oh no! Little Penguin has got the hiccups (darn that spicy chili!), and he needs your help to get rid of them. Speaking directly to the reader, Little Penguin reports, Apparently HIC! giving someone a good scare is the surest HIC! bestest way to cure the hiccups. Tasked with scaring this cute eggplant-shaped bird, readers must shout Boo! on the count of three. It's impossible not to read this book aloud, as countdowns precede page turns to the required Boo!, revealing an increasingly startledbut still hiccuppingpenguin. Little Penguin coaches readers on their delivery, asking them to get louder and scarier, until the ocean delivers a truly terrifying surprise. Bentley's debut uses simplicity and humor to great effect, and his digitally colored pen-and-ink illustrations are heart-meltingly adorable. Youngsters will easily get swept up in this endearing story and their mission to help Little Penguin shake those pesky hiccups. Pair this with Aaron Zenz's The Hiccupotamus (2009) for another rollicking hiccup tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)