Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Review
“Breezy rhymes introduce each dazzling double-page scene of penguin life, from “flying” underwater to tobogganing over the arctic snow to feeding a pair of adorably fuzzy chicks. Wendell’s vibrant large-scale figures, set against bracing polar landscapes, have enough personality to captivate a crowd, but their breathtaking detail demands the closer inspection and shared exploration of a lap-sit session. Penguin Fun Facts, a list of related web sites, and a visual key of the 10 species depicted in the book, add informational detail to this light, superbly illustrated picture book.” – Booklist
“A playful and lightly informative look at the life of penguins. Children will love the upbeat rhyming text. The spreads are eye-catching and fun. An excellent storytime addition.” – School Library Journal
From the Back Cover
If you were a penguin . . .
You could swim really fast and toboggan on ice.
Sing a happy duet, once or twice.
You could live on land but dive under the sea.
There’s a lot penguins can do, just like you and me!
Wendell and Florence Minor create a charming tribute to all the playful fun and activity that comes with being a penguin—which young readers can delight in too!
About the Author
Florence Minor is the author of Christmas Tree!, illustrated by Wendell Minor, which Kirkus Reviews praised for its “imaginative Christmas trees and poetic, rhyming text.” If You Were a Penguin, her second collaboration with Wendell, was selected by Pennsylvania for its “One Book, Every Young Child” early literacy program. If You Were a Panda Bear is her third picture book for children.
Wendell Minor is the illustrator of more than fifty award-winning picture books for children, including Mojave by Diane Siebert, Abe Lincoln Remembers by Ann Turner, The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow, and the New York Times bestseller Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin, as well as numerous books about the outdoors with his frequent collaborator, Jean Craighead George, including their classic Everglades.
The Minors live in Connecticut, where they share their home and studio with their cats, Sofie and Cindercat.
Wendell Minor is nationally known for the artwork he has created for over sixty award-winning children’s books. His many collaborators include Jean Craighead George, Robert Burleigh, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Johnston, Nikki Grimes, Mary Higgins Clark, and, last but not least, his wife, Florence. He is also the author and illustrator of My Farm Friends.
