PAPA LOVES YOU, TINY BLUE

A story about a little penguin who is full of questions.

Empson takes us on an adventure as we follow the journey of a little penguin named Tiny Blue and his papa. As they travel from their home on land to the ocean, Tiny Blue asks questions that Papa can answer easily, such as “Why can’t I fly?” and “Will you always keep me safe?” He also asks stumpers that require more complex answers, such as “What is love?” and “How do you know you love me?” This book captures many of the questions that youngsters might ask trusted adults. Caregivers of young children will see their inquisitive wards reflected in Tiny Blue, whose insatiable curiosity sometimes veers toward random yet thought-provoking subjects (“Papa, is there sand on the moon?”), while children can connect to the tiny penguin’s thirst for knowledge. As Tiny Blue and Papa explore their undersea world, readers learn about other animals that share the water with them, such as jellyfish, a whale shark, and seals. While Papa tries his best to answer all of Tiny Blue’s inquiries about these other creatures, he also has his hands—ahem, flippers—full keeping Tiny Blue safe; but any unanswered questions are addressed in the fun backmatter. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A picture book about life’s big and small questions and an adventurous exploration of penguin ecology.