Penguin's Christmas Wish
(Penguin)

Spending time with friends and loved ones is a big part of what makes the holidays special; when one of those friends is a pine tree, so much the better. This fifth Penguin picture book sees the return of Pinecone, whom Penguin befriended in his first picture book in 2012. Now fully grown, Pinecone becomes the perfect Christmas tree for Penguin, Pumpkin, and their fellow penguins, but after a storm blows away the ornaments on the tree and the presents underneath it, Penguin uses a bit of ingenuity to create replacement gifts (sticks, it turns out, make great knitting needles, drumsticks, and fishing rods). With their rough black outlines and bright colors, Yoon's digital graphics again create a cozy polar environment for the story, which emphasizes creativity, togetherness, and generosity as key elements for a memorable Christmas. Up to age 3. Agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--In the title character's sixth adventure, he leads his family from their icy home to the heart of the forest, where Pinecone (introduced in the first book) has grown into a tall tree--perfect for Christmas adornments. After a pleasant trimming party, all go to sleep with heads full of wishes. But during the night, a blizzard wreaks havoc. In the morning, not only are all the decorations gone but so are the presents. Grandpa reminds everyone that the true joy of Christmas is being with loved ones, but Penguin goes off into the snow and returns with creative gifts to fulfill each wish but his own. His wish had been to share Christmas with the whole forest. As the sun melts the snow, the ornaments are discovered on the surrounding trees. Old and new friends gather at nightfall to see the beautiful array, making Penguin's wish come true after all. VERDICT The noncommercial message and charmingly illustrated characters will surely delight fans of this picture book series.--Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library