OWL AND PENGUIN

Birds of a feather—and flipper—flock together.

In the first of several stories about two avian pals, Owl purchases ice cream for themself and Penguin, but disaster ensues when the ice cream falls off Penguin’s cone. Penguin is unhappy, so Owl is unhappy, and a second cone is purchased. When that one falls, the friends go from sad to laughing at the absurdity of it all. The following two tales highlight the different abilities the two have. Penguin wants to fly, just like Owl, so the two get creative to figure out a solution. In the final story, Owl wants to play outside with Penguin, but it’s raining; once again, the two manage to find a way to have fun. The three stories in this graphic novel are told with minimal text; Owl and Penguin communicate with word balloons, using only illustrations and emojis. Some of the panels contain simple narration in boxes; if children are still learning, however, they can deduce meaning based on the illustrations. Reminiscent of the strong bond between Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad, Owl and Penguin’s friendship is deep and delightful, and this easy reader makes the story comprehensible as it addresses themes of envy, sadness, and problem-solving in an accessible and entertaining way. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Engaging vignettes in the lives of two adorable friends.