Pirate & penguin

Although children's library collections are not lacking in pirate stories, this fresh and funny tale makes its case for inclusion by using a pirate-ship setting to explore the nature of friendship. An adventurous penguin spots a tall-masted ship sailing nearby and accidentally ends up on board. An elderly pirate excitedly declares that he has been looking for a parrot pal, and this bird is perfect! Deciding that its colors have been faded by the sun, the pirate paints the penguin red. Failing to teach the penguin how to sit on his shoulder, the pirate accepts that this must be a "ground parrot." The penguin can't talk and does not like crackers, but the pirate is alarmed when it leaves. Bereft, the sad pirate asks for forgiveness and is delighted when his small friend returns bearing the gift of freshly caught fish. The pirate acknowledges that the penguin is fine the way it is, and the two sail away happily together. The final illustration of a parrot, alone on an icy shore, may foretell a sequel.

When a very dim pirate mistakes a penguin for a parrot, confusion ensues. When a small penguin slips on an icy cliff and lands on the deck of a sailing ship, the tan-skinned pirate assumes that it's a longed-for parrot with faded plumage--remedying that with a paint pot. The penguin is not amused and, rather than cooperatively perch on the pirate's shoulder, furiously attacks the pirate. The pirate tries to elicit some parrot-talk, producing a lexicon of pirate slang: "Batten down the hatches?" "Mizzenmast?" "Hornswoggle?" "Doubloons?" "Booty?" When the pirate offers a cracker, the penguin spits it out, and the irate pirate responds with anger ("SNOGGERS!" " 'Tis Mutiny!"). But when the penguin walks the plank, the pirate is remorseful ("I be a rotting rapscallion!"). Then the penguin returns with a welcome gift of fish, and the pirate concludes that, strange as the "parrot" seems, "I like ye just the way ye arrrrrrrr." Dialogue balloons are black with white type; splashes of parrot-paint color enliven the neutral ship setting. Varied compositions often feature small insets on large spreads; this one will be a great read-aloud to an audience close enough to see the images. The solitary pirate is a cartoon figure, drawn with every stereotypical accoutrement except an eye patch: peg leg, hook hand, gray beard, and 18th-century attire. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An amusing romp that will have landlubbers and scurvy sea dogs alike giggling. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.