Could You Ever Waddle with Penguins!? (Could You Ever...)

PreS-Gr 2—Well-loved science writer Markle poses a question for children: what if they woke up in Antarctica, part of a group of Adélie penguins? Would they stay warm? Morales, working in cartoon-style digital illustrations on the right-hand pages that blend easily with photographs of Adélie penguins on the left, shows a young bespectacled girl with tan skin and black hair shivering and then growing more comfortable because of the way penguin feathers are packed: "When you live with penguins, you will stay toasty warm even during a blizzard." One child after another, always with different hair and one of a variety of skin tones, experiences how to eat like penguins, swim, escape predators, leap, and more. Author and illustrator are in genuine lockstep as they cover penguin summers, nesting, the sounds penguins make, how little they sleep, and more. The last soothing lines will remind children that even though this is what it is like among the penguins, they can certainly remain with their own kind: humans. VERDICT This effortless nonfiction format provides facts stacked on facts in a way that is memorable and still works for reports. A great addition to the shelves.—Kimberly Olson Fakih

Praise for What If You Had Animal Teeth!?:

"Will surely satisfy animal enthusiasts and trivia lovers, and dentists and parents will appreciate the mention of ways to keep human chompers healthy." — Booklist

"It's a hilarious and instructive combination that makes it clear just how variable and individually suited this aspect of anatomy is, and the art takes the concept and runs — well, chomps — with it." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Delightful illustrations and factual presentations of animals make this a valuable purchase for early elementary classrooms and libraries." — Library Media Connection

"The lively text, photographs, and quirky illustrations charmingly tell a great tooth story." — International Reading Association