I Am Not a Penguin

November 15, 2020
Most children will not be familiar with pangolins, scaly mammals native to Asia and Africa. But neither are the animal characters who mix up the pangolin with many other animals. A talkative pangolin introduces his species with a poster. The animals, illustrated in a stylized but realistic manner, seem thoroughly confused by this new creature. In the dryly witty text, the pangolin describes his various attributes but is constantly interrupted by other animals mistaking him for a creature that's similar in some way. When the pangolin describes curling up into a ball to protect himself, the skunk says: "Oh, I get it! He's an armadillo." When penguins are remarked on, the pangolin grows extremely testy. "I AM CERTAINLY NOT A PENGUIN! I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT PENGUINS! THERE ARE NO PENGUINS HERE! ZERO PENGUINS! NOT. ONE. PENGUIN!" And who should stroll in but a surfer penguin, wearing cool sunglasses and leading the pangolin's audience to the beach. The crestfallen pangolin starts to cancel the presentation, but then a small Asian-presenting child shows up to listen, explaining, "I'm just a kid"--to which the pangolin responds with puzzlement: "Huh. Like a goat?" The pangolin shows sheet after informational sheet to an enthralled audience of one, quiet humor giving way to a small torrent of facts written on mock presentation paper. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 16.8% of actual size.) A whimsical introduction to an unusual mammal. (Informational picture book. 5-8)

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December 7, 2020
A pangolin is convinced that a “fun facts” presentation will clarify some things about it for its fellow animals. The inattentive audience (“Did somebody say ‘penguins’?”), however, would rather associate the mammal with its component parts: if it has scales, it must be a snake; if it spews a stinky liquid when frightened, it must be a skunk (“Skunks are very cute and extremely popular, I’ll have you know,” a skunk adds). Worst of all, the animals are sorely disappointed when they learn that Pangolin is not a penguin. And when a real penguin walks through—so cool that it’s wearing shades and toting a surfboard—everyone quickly follows. Everyone, that is, except for a child who looks a lot like the author and happily soaks up everything Pangolin tells her. Maybe having niche appeal isn’t so bad after all. Wong’s (The Goose Egg) gouache-colored line drawings are stripped down almost to a fault, but her dialogue-balloon text feels as if it was freshly and astutely overheard: “I’M FREAKING OUT! I’M TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!” says a pig, spotting the surfer penguin. Ages 5–8. Agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary.