Review:
The naked penguin by Kym Lardner
ABC Books, 2008.
(Age 5-7) The little penguin has no white front, he is all black. He
tries to
make friends, but he is spurned for being different. Trying to be the
same, he makes a white front for himself but is laughed at. He asks the
skiing kangaroo for help and the blue whale, but gets nowhere. Finally
he decides to leave, but then he sees the pink dolphin, swimming
happily with the grey ones, and the bird with the tufty curl, happily
bobbing on top of the water with the other birds. He remembers what his
father said, 'though you are different, you are not less', and armed
with that piece of information, he rejoins the other penguins.
Beautifully illustrated, the story of the penguin is a treat. The
simple landscapes with the bluey green colours make the reader feel
cold, but kids will laugh out loud at the antics of the penguins on
their bikes. Each page has a difference to be searched for, be it the
animals in unusual circumstances, the cold of the deep blue sea, the
storm clouds overhead or the trail of an airplane. For those kids who
do feel different, the story shows them that being different is fine,
for those who feel that difference singles people out, the story shows
them that difference is part of being in a group. The story will make
any reader feel a sense of belonging, of togetherness, as the little
penguin finds his feet amongst the other penguins.
Fran Knight
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