Puffin Peter

PreS-Gr 1—When two puffin friends are separated in a big storm, Peter is rescued by a friendly blue whale that ferries him to visit different birds in search of Paul. Each miss prompts Peter to add to his pal's description, leading to a satisfying reunion. The short, simple sentences and phrase repetition in this build-up story encourage audience participation, making this book a perfect choice for sharing with the preschool storytime crowd; the vocabulary, large print, and placement of the text on solid backgrounds also allow for solo use for beginning readers. Peter's youthful description of his best friend-"funny and noisy"-will resonate with young children, many of whom have a similar friend. Readers of all ages will swoon over Horáček's lush, brightly colored mixed-media illustrations that lend life to the ocean, the different birds encountered, and Peter's many emotions during his quest. This tale of friendship and perseverance is a must-have for public and school libraries alike.—Rebecca Dash Donsky, New York Public Library