Penguin on Vacation

PreS-Gr 1—Penguin is back and this time he's going somewhere tropical. He needs a break from the snow, so he packs his suitcase, waves good-bye to his grandpa, and hops on an ice floe to a beach vacation. He soon learns that he cannot ski, sled, or skate on sand. Luckily, he meets Crab, who shows him all the fun one can have at the beach-building sand castles, playing beach ball, climbing coconut trees, surfing, etc. "But all vacations come to an end," so Penguin heads home, but he soon discovers, to his delight, that Crab has come along. After all, crabs need vacations, too, and Penguin shows his friend all the fun things to do in his snowy home. At the end of his visit, Crab writes that he "shell return" (yes, on a shell) and one day he does. Yoon's crisp and clean Photoshop illustrations add depth, whimsy, and action to the text. Penguin in a stripped bathing suit circa 1920 and Crab wearing a scarf and mittens should not be missed. Yoon spins a simple and enjoyable story of friendship and adventure that will work well in storytime or for individual sharing.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH