THE PENGUIN WHO WAS COLD

A chilly bird with tropical seas on the brain sets out to find some warmth.

Children’s books love to tap into the sensation of feeling different from the pack. Milo is no exception. One day the little penguin wakes up and realizes that he is, in fact, quite cold. He also realizes that he is alone in this feeling, as seemingly every other penguin thoroughly enjoys the ice and the snow. After Milo balks at the prospect of diving into the freezing sea, a friendly whale offers to take him somewhere new. The game little penguin hitches a ride and, on a tropical island, is delighted to find a flock of friendly birds. Upon leaving, he is presented with a scarf of warm feathers, a gift he shares with another cold little penguin back home. The story of finding your community and then returning to find others like you has a timely feel. The true lure of the book, however, comes in Giordano’s geometric art style. Penguins are little more than circles and rectangles, artfully constructed to resemble birds. The whale is all curves, while a tortoise sports triangles on their shell. From the multicolored splendor of the island to the black and white of the Antarctic to the brilliant blue of the sea, the storyline and the accompanying images are suffused with comfort. Backmatter provides further info on penguins and penguin life. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Warm as a feathered hug.