Tacky the Penguin
(Tacky the Penguin)

This book is must reading for any kid or grown-up who refuses to follow the pack. Tacky wears a rumpled Hawaiian shirt, frequently stumbles, performs splashy cannonballs and sings songs like, "How Many Toes Does a Fish Have?" He lives at the North Pole with his companions Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly and Perfect, who clad themselves in decorous bow-ties, walk neatly in a row, perform elegant dives and sing lovely songs like, "Sunrise on the Iceberg." But even without the fancy trappings, Tacky comes into his own when he outsmarts a gang of penguin rustlers. This is off-beat fun that is a natural follow-up to Lester and Munsinger's other dandy offerings, including A Porcupine Named Fluffy and The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken. Ages 4-8. (April)

K-Gr 2 Tacky the Penguin is a total nonconformist who lives with a group of formal, proper penguins. But it is Tacky who foils the plans of three critters with "get-rich-quick plans" that threaten the penguins' existence. With his un-penguin-like antics, Tacky puzzles the hunters to such an extent that they're firmly convinced they cannot be in the "land of the pretty penguins." This is a rollicking tale that clearly shows that there are ad vantages to being an individual. Mun singer cheerfully captures the mood of the tale with her whimsical, full-color illustrations that are particularly strong in depicting the hunters' deter mined, then befuddled, expressions and Tacky's madcap antics. This is sure to elicit lots of chuckles from young readers. Bonnie Wheatley, Emma Conn Elementary School, Ra leigh, N.C.