Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
A Star for Mama
Kip the baby penguin loves his mama very much. Whilst gazing at the night sky, Mama comments on the beauty of the stars and Kip has the idea of trying to catch a shooting star for her and sets off on an adventure…
What’s not to love about this sweet story! Celebrating the bond between mother and child, it shows the pleasure of spending time together and enjoying the little things in life. It is perfect for snuggling down together and sharing!
Kip’s love for his mother makes him want to do something really special for her, setting him off on his adventure. He is completely focused on his quest, failing to notice the dangers which readers will instantly spot as Kathy Creamer’s illustrations offer another layer to the story. The reassuring presence of the big grey dog prevents any really worries for Kip’s safety, despite the appearance of the hungry looking fox and the driving rain. I love the penultimate picture where mother and baby are sheltered by the dog under a sky filled with Northern Lights whilst the disgruntled fox scuttles off to look for food elsewhere. Children are sure to love to story of the crab who finds the net on the end papers only to have it whisked away by Kip, but who has gained possession of his prize once more on the final endpaper. There is plenty to discuss in this gentle story and plenty to enjoy.
At the end of the book, there is a section of penguin facts, allowing children to discover more about these fascinating creatures. Kip and the other penguins are shown living in what I assume are artificial nests, again opening possibilities for discussion and discovery.
A Star for Mama
Ashling Kwok, illustrated by Kathy Creamer
Little Pink Dog Books ISBN: 978-0648964131
Protecting the Planet: Emperor of the Ice
This beautiful book tells of a year in the life of the Emperor penguin, highlighting the dangers that they face both due to the harsh climate they live in and to the effects of climate change. A forward by Dr Phil Trathan sets the scene, explaining the role played by satellites in helping to tell their story and the book closes with two pages of information about Emperor Penguins, climate change and what can be done to help.
The book is beautifully written, full of rich imagery, with the lines of penguins and their shadows making their way across the ice described as ‘like spidery writing across a blank page’. From reaching the ice at Halley Bay, the perfect location to breed, and finding a mate, laying a single egg and the Empress making her treacherous journey to the sea and back, the text outlines the vulnerability of these creatures and the fragility of both their lives and the new one they have created. Nicola Davies does not shy away from the harsh realities, but offers these honestly as an essential part of the story she is telling. Although she describes ‘a good year for this colony’, the book ends with a reminder of the fragility of the penguins existence.
Catherine Rayner’s stunning illustrations make the perfect accompaniment to the words, making this a very attractive and appealing book. This would be an engaging and accessible text for Guided Reading, offering much to explore and investigate as well as being a book which is sure to be taken from shelves by individuals to be devoured with great pleasure. This is a special book.
Protecting the Planet: Emperor of the Ice
Nicola Davies, illustrated by Catherine Rayner
Walker ISBN: 978-1406397086
Penguin Huddle
Every day, the penguin pack plays on the frozen southern pole, but when the sun goes down, they squeeze together in a penguin huddle, warm and cosy, all night long. However, one morning, after a freezing gale, the penguins wake up to find themselves stuck together. Luckily, Pipsqueak, the smallest of them all, has the biggest ideas…
Perfect for the chilly winter evenings, ‘Penguin Huddle’ is a delightful tale of friendship and helping others, full of Ross Montgomery’s humour and Sarah Warburton’s charming illustrations. There is so much to discuss and enjoy on each spread that this will quickly become a firm favourite with young- and old(er) readers everywhere.
So many creatures step up to help the huddle in need, showing the importance of kindness and lending a helping hand -or paw-or claw-or flipper- whenever you can. Pipsqueak’s positive nature and good ideas lead the penguins to work as a team, eventually solving their problem. The wonderful illustrations lend themselves to children inventing their own stories- the mouse family being aided by the fire-giraffe, for example! There are also plenty of touches of humour to explore in the posters about town and in the Doctopus’s surgery!
The book also lends itself to inspiring creative activities- penguin skittles (made from toilet roll tubes), making lollies, using the features of individual penguins to create new ones- perhaps in a game of Build-a-Penguin! So many possibilities!
That said, this is simply a delightful story, packed with personality and penguin power! One not to be missed!
Penguin Huddle
Ross Montgomery, illustrated by Sarah Warburton
Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406389838
Passionate About Penguins
The latest in Owen Davey’s very popular non-fiction series, ‘Passionate about Penguins’ is a beautifully illustrated, essential addition to your collection. These books are so tactile and inviting that I have seen children pore over them for ages, completely caught up in the experience.
Starting with an explanation of what penguins are and the six distinct groups they can be split into, the book then introduces diet and habitat. Most penguins live below the Equator with the book explaining that, contrary to what many people believe, penguins and polar bears would never meet in the wild.
Penguins are specially adapted to their aquatic lifestyle and Davey focuses on the Humboldt penguin to illustrate these features, making it very useful for the Y6 Science curriculum work on adaptation as each feature is taken and considered, making it a great model to use for presenting work on other creatures.
Whether exploring their feathers, how they move or how they defend themselves, each topic is clearly explained in bite-sized chunks of information using side headings to help the reader navigate the page. Word play and puns are used to add a touch of humour to the text and although there is no glossary, many words are explained in context.
A sense of the size of different penguin species can be found on the pages entitled ‘To Scale’. Here, a whole host of penguins can be seen drawn around a human with a handy scale marker down the side of one page, allowing the reader to gauge the relative size of these creatures, some of which are surprising!
‘And the Award Goes To…’ offers some fascinating trivia. I had no idea how the Macaroni penguin got its name nor which species was the fastest underwater! The book ends with a note on conservation and how human activity is endangering most penguin species, but offers positive comments on what can be done to help them.
‘Passionate About Penguins’ would be a brilliant addition to any library, topic box or reading shelf for many reasons. It is also one of those wonderful books which has appeal to a wide age range and could be used in classes across KS2 to support work in science. Details like the Latin binomial classification added in the index demonstrates the work of Linnaeus and classification systems touched on in Year 6 or to support work on food chains in Year 4.
As usual, the illustrations are colourful and engaging, adding to the pleasure of immersing yourself into the world of penguins. I hope this series continues for a long time!
Passionate About Penguins Owen Davey
Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740771
Published 4th August 2022
