Penguin on Vacation (Penguin)

Lesson learned: The magic of friendship does not depend on where you are or what you are doing—it is about being together and learning from each other.

Yoon's story of an unlikely interspecies friendship is both funny and sweet . . . let's hope that, as the Antarctic Ambassador of Friendship, Penguin, too, shall return in more adventures.

PreS-Gr 1--Penguin is back and this time he's going somewhere tropical. He needs a break from the snow, so he packs his suitcase, waves good-bye to his grandpa, and hops on an ice floe to a beach vacation. He soon learns that he cannot ski, sled, or skate on sand. Luckily, he meets Crab, who shows him all the fun one can have at the beach-building sand castles, playing beach ball, climbing coconut trees, surfing, etc. "But all vacations come to an end," so Penguin heads home, but he soon discovers, to his delight, that Crab has come along. After all, crabs need vacations, too, and Penguin shows his friend all the fun things to do in his snowy home. At the end of his visit, Crab writes that he "shell return" (yes, on a shell) and one day he does. Yoon's crisp and clean Photoshop illustrations add depth, whimsy, and action to the text. Penguin in a stripped bathing suit circa 1920 and Crab wearing a scarf and mittens should not be missed. Yoon spins a simple and enjoyable story of friendship and adventure that will work well in storytime or for individual sharing.--Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Crisp illustrations that capture a genuinely loving heart . . . a strong if whimsical choice for those separated from loved ones." - Kirkus Reviews on Penguin and Pinecone

"Yoon's cute, boldly lined characters and graphic compositions tell the story in a series of spots, full-page images, and thought bubbles. This picture book, like many before it, proves that love comes in many forms." - Booklist on Penguin and Pinecone

"Readers will respond to this warm tale of finding love." - Kirkus Reviews on Penguin in Love