Penguinaut!

August 1, 2018
A little penguin tries to outshine his zoo friends, but there's a surprise in store for him.Penguin Orville lives in the zoo and has many big friends, such as an elephant, a giraffe, and a lion. These big friends go on big adventures, and Orville is sad because he misses out. He wants to feel big too, so he decides he is going to go to the moon. With some trial and error, he manages to build a spaceship. He defiantly proclaims, "I can do this myself," when his friends offer to help him or express doubt. His big adventure is successful, and he lands on the moon--but while he's thrilled to have made it, soon he starts to miss his friends and wonders if this is what he really wanted to do. With some introspection and the support of his friends, Orville discovers his biggest adventure yet! This empowering story is conveyed beautifully with simple text that's distinguished by gentle wordplay and remarkable mixed-media illustrations. Yarlett's detailed depictions, including the cartoon-style portraits of stylized, friendly-looking zoo animals, bring the story alive. Small details delight, as when Orville sketches his diagrams on the elephant's hide. The satisfying tale also leaves room for an interesting conversation about whether adventures would be more fun with or without friends.A funny and sharp story with nuance. (Picture book. 3-7)

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November 1, 2018
Preschool-G A penguin yearning for the ability to fly is a common premise in picture books, but Colleen tweaks the formula for her story of Orville, a penguin desperate for a big adventure. Tired of seeing his large zoo friends having grand adventures?cue the hang-�gliding rhino?Orville decides to best them all by going to the moon. Figuring out how to get there involves a lot of trial and error, but eventually he builds a penguin-sized, cardboard rocket ship and blasts into space. He takes in the awesome view and enjoys the effects of low gravity, but these joys quickly give way to loneliness. Thankfully, his Earth-bound friends sneaked a token of encouragement into his space suit's pocket that fuels both Orville's return home and a heartwarming revelation. Orville's scheme gets delightful treatment in Yarlett's mixed-media illustrations, which echo the penguin's boundless enthusiasm and small size. Indeed, the largeness of the other zoo animals and of outer space results in one- and two-page spreads perfect for group sharing. A fun, unsentimental adventure in friendship and independence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)