A Penguin Story

Edna the penguin yearns for something more stimulating than a minimalist horizon. The endless white of snow and ice, the black of the night sky and the Blue, blue, blue. Forever of the sky and ocean only increase her ennui. Readers know alternatives exist because a sunset-orange seaplane goes by when Ednas back is turned; brilliant green and orange endpapers, too, contrast with the limited palette and blocky compositions. Edna treks over icebergs to a revelatory destination, then brings her brood to meet a friendly human expedition camping in ambulance-orange domes and wearing matching jumpsuits; she proudly waddles home with a souvenir orange rubber glove. Portis ("Not a Box") celebrates those who long for art and, with her own playful rendering, she inspires readers to celebrate, too. Ages 48. "(Jan".) Copyright 2008 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2Like the imaginative heroes of Portis's "Not a Box" (2007) and "Not a Stick" (2008, both HarperCollins), Edna yearns for something different. Though her fellow penguins are content to play and eat in their world of white snow, black night, and blue sea, she seeks something else. She finds ita giant, bright orange research station, inhabited by orange-coated researchers. When she takes the other penguins there, they are suitably impressed, and one of the researchers even gives her a colorful glove. As the others go back to their normal lives, Edna stands atop an iceberg, wearing the orange glove like a hat, wondering "What else could there be?" This gentle tribute to dreamers crackles with quiet humor, and the art's limited palette both parallels the plot and lends the book a classic feel. Portis's ability to convey emotion and character through the slightest change in Edna's beady eyes and flippers is extraordinary, and the interplay of the text and pictures nears perfection. A delightful story, delightfully told."Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.