Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2^-4. With her trademark directness and simplicity, Gibbons introduces those irresistibly appealing birds, the penguins. As her pen-and-ink and watercolor paintings reveal, these nonflyers share a basic body shape, but lined up alongside each other across the pages, they are seen to possess distinctive feathering that distinguishes the 17 species from each other. A color-coded map of the Southern Hemisphere pinpoints where each type of penguin resides, and depictions of the birds at sea and aboard ice floes accompany facts about their food, predators, and lifestyle. Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the emperor penguins is their brooding habit: the male guards the female's single egg in his brood pouch. After generating interest about the penguins and their lifestyles, Gibbons concludes by alerting readers to the environmental hazards that threaten the birds' well-being. --Ellen Mandel
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Gail Gibbons's book (Holiday House, 1998) presents plenty of basic facts about penguins in a distinct and accessible way, describing physical appearance, adaptations, enemies, habitat, life cycle, and lifestyles. Several kinds of penguins are compared side by side, and their similarities and differences are indicated. The dangers threatening penguin colonies are described and the steps that are being taken to protect them are explained. Simple, uncluttered illustrations are labeled, and difficult terms are explained. Narrator George Mazzoli begins by explaining that he will read the text at the bottom of each page first, followed by the descriptive labels on the illustrations. He reads expressively and at a pace that permits students to peruse the illustration and digest the facts before he moves on. Page-turn signals are optional. Sound effects, such as the wind, the sea, and penguin calls enhance the narration. An admirable presentation of Gibbons's terrific introduction to penguins.-MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, Binghamton, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Illustrated with Gibbons's characteristic artwork, this book takes a quick look at all seventeen different species of penguins, with a more detailed look at emperor penguins and how they raise their chicks. The text ends with a brief discussion of some of the dangers facing penguins and the recent efforts to protect these amazing birds. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
