If You Were a Penguin

PreS-Gr 3—How do you improve Florence Minor's terrific book (Katherine Tegen Bks., 2008) about the creatures that fascinate children? Add delightful music, playful penguin sounds, and a narrator with a subtle British accent. The CD opens with frolicsome penguin noises, immediately engaging listeners. Each double-page spread featuring Wendell Minor's beautiful, detailed art is introduced by fun, sparse, and informative rhymes detailing the traits, habits, and talents of penguins. Listeners are invited to imagine all the things they could do—swim, toboggan, feed their chicks, and more—if they were penguins. Amusing fun facts about these creatures and the distinct calls of various species conclude the audiobook. Page-turn signals are optional. A welcome addition to collection's for young people, and an essential purchase for libraries that already circulate the book.—Lindsay Persohn, Crystal Lake Elementary School, Lakeland, FL