Penguin Problems
from Jory John and Lane Smith
September 27, 2016
Random House BFYR
Source: from pub for review
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! All of your problems will surely be blown away by the icy winds of that lawless paradise! . . . Won’t they?
Think again, my friend. This penguin has come to tell you that his life down there is no more a picnic than yours is here. For starters, it is FREEZING. Also, penguins have a ton of natural predators. Plus, can you imagine trying to find your mom in a big ol’ crowd of identical penguins? No, thank you.
Yes, it seems there is no escaping the drudgery of your daily grind, whatever it might be. Or perhaps we’ve just learned that grumps are everywhere. . . .
Praise for Penguin Problems
“Well-paced, bursting with humor, and charmingly misanthropic.”—Kirkus Reviews starred review
“The temperature may be below freezing, but the snark level is cranked up high
in this collaboration between funnymen John and Smith.”— Horn Bookstarred review
Penguin Problems, from Jory John and Lane Smith, follows one honest and less than satisfied little penguin, as he explains to readers why life as a penguin isn't all cuteness and fluff. From too much snow, to predators in the too salty ocean, and the tricky situation of looking like every other penguin, our disgruntled narrator has lots of problems.
Penguin Problems is a charming picture book that will have little readers laughing. Jory John and Lane Smith create a humorously, slightly snarktastic voice that is both clever and relatable. With sparse, yet entertaining text, Penguin Problems creates an engaging and delightful encounter between the cute penguin narrator and readers. The penguins complaints are over-the-top silly, but readers will totally understand that universal feeling of "I kinda hate everything today and want everyone to know it". The fun, captivating illustrations, with their soft colors, lively action, and expressive characters, are the perfect companion to the amusing story.
With its laugh-out-loud text, eye-catching illustrations, and message of appreciating what you have, Penguin Problems is a sweet and fun picture book read!
JORY JOHN (@joryjohn) is an author, a journalist, and an educator living in Portland, Oregon. Jory is the creator and coauthor of the bestselling All My Friends Are Dead, which has sold more than 200,000 copies. For 10 years, Jory worked as a seasonal camp counselor at a performing arts and circus camp, where he taught songwriting, guitar, juggling, and writing.
LANE SMITH has written and illustrated a bunch of projects including the 2012 Caldecott Honor book, Grandpa Greenwich. His books have been New York Times Best Illustrated Books on four occasions and in 2012 The Eric Carle Museum named him an Honor Artist for "lifelong innovation in the field of children's books." In addition, he received the Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement award in 2014.
The reviews are great on this, and it's a JLG pick! Looking forward to reading it.
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