Penguin's Big Adventure

by Salina Yoon

Overview

Geisel Honor-winning author/illustrator Salina Yoon's beloved character Penguin journeys to the North Pole in Penguin's Big Adventure--a charming picture book about trying new things!

Penguin embarks on his next journey--becoming the first penguin to explore the North Pole! Along the way, he says hello to all of his old friends. But when he finally reaches his destination, he realizes he's all alone in a strange, foreign place . . . How will Penguin overcome his fears of the unknown and enjoy this new adventure?

Countless readers have already come to love the adorable Penguin, and Salina Yoon continues this series with a timeless story of firsts and friendship.
A Winter 2015-2016 Kids' Indie Next Pick (Be a Friend)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802738288
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Series:	Salina Yoon's Penguin Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	414,794
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Salina Yoon is an award-winning author/illustrator of nearly 150 books for children, such as Penguin and Pinecone, Penguin on Vacation, Penguin in Love, Penguin and Pumpkin, Penguin's Big Adventure, Penguin's Christmas Wish, Found, Stormy Night, Bear's Big Day, and Be a Friend, as well as the Duck, Duck, Porcupine chapter book series--including the Geisel Honor winner My Kite is Stuck!. She studied art and design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and now lives in San Diego with her family.

www.salinayoon.com www.facebook.com/PenguinandPinecone

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2015
PreS-Gr 2—Yoon's latest entry in her series has the protagonist setting a goal—to be the first penguin at the North Pole. Map in hand, pack on back, and his neck cozied with his signature orange scarf, Penguin sets off, but not before Yoon hints at the surprise ending by showing his penguin friends busy sewing, weaving, and braiding toward their own world records. As he makes his way north, Penguin enjoys visits with characters from his previous books and finally arrives at the top of the world. But after the initial excitement of meeting his goal, he finds the North Pole desolate and lonely, and with the appearance of a polar bear, maybe even dangerous. Their first anxious meeting becomes a sweet friendship until Penguin's busy friends appear to bring him home in a hot air balloon…the fruit of their earlier labors. The Photoshop drawings resemble woodcuts, outlined in heavy black and brightly colored. Yoon manages to create visual dynamism despite the illustrations' static simplicity by changing the page layouts to include spreads with horizon lines, framed tableaux, sequenced action, and thought bubbles. The simple narrative offers an opportunity for prediction and allows for text-to-self connections at a very basic level. VERDICT A solid addition to picture book collections.—Lisa Lehmuller, East Providence School District, RI

School Library Journal

2015-06-06
Another adventure starring Yoon's small penguin with the big orange scarf (Penguin and Pumpkin, 2014, etc.). Penguin wants to be the first penguin to set foot on the otherwise penguinless North Pole. Slinging on his backpack, he heads north. On the way, he passes several friends making things that gain greater significance later in the book: a large colorful quilt, a big basket, and a very long rope. He bypasses them all, intent on his quest. When he finally gets to the North Pole, he finds there are no other penguins, only a cute polar bear cub with whom he shares some adventures riding on a whale, building ice forts, and exploring the Arctic Sea. The purpose of the earlier activities of his penguin friends becomes apparent when they swoop down in a stylish hot air balloon and carry him back to their Antarctic home. Yoon's bold, black-outlined, vividly colored illustrations compensate somewhat for the weak, unimaginative storyline. This lack of depth is due in part to the fact that some key details can only be understood with knowledge of previous books in the series. Readers who don't know that Penguin is an avid knitter or that he made friends with a pine cone and a crab in previous outings will be mystified by these references, since their appearances in this story do not support the plot. Slight and self-referential, this is not one of Penguin's more memorable adventures. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

Yoon manages to create visual dynamism . . . The simple narrative offers an opportunity for prediction and allows for text-to-self connections.” —School Library Journal

“Readers will respond to this warm tale of finding love.” —Kirkus Reviews on PENGUIN IN LOVE

“Yoon's story of an unlikely interspecies friendship is both funny and sweet . . . let's hope that, as the Antarctic Ambassador of Friendship, Penguin, too, shall return in more adventures.” —Horn Book on PENGUIN ON VACATION

“Yoon's cute, boldly lined characters and graphic compositions tell the story in a series of spots, full-page images, and thought bubbles. This picture book, like many before it, proves that love comes in many forms.” —Booklist on PENGUIN AND PINECONE

“Crisp illustrations that capture a genuinely loving heart . . . a strong if whimsical choice for those separated from loved ones.” —Kirkus Reviews on PENGUIN AND PINECONE

“This comforting story successfully addresses the common fear of storms for a young audience… This storm's impact has no lasting power against a family's love.” —School Library Journal on STORMY NIGHT

“A thoughtful, flawlessly executed exploration of theory of mind and emotional intelligence.” —starred review,Publishers Weekly on FOUND

From the Publisher