‘Baby Penguins Everywhere!’ and More

From “Baby Penguins Everywhere!”

By PAMELA PAUL

BABY PENGUINS EVERYWHERE!
Written and illustrated by Melissa Guion.
32 pp. Philomel. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 5)

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Any viewer of “March of the Penguins” understands that baby penguins are painstakingly born, one at a time, in brutal conditions. Not so in this cheery antipodal world where dot-eyed birds with small yellow triangular beaks pop out of a magical hat floating at sea. They multiply and entertain and then overwhelm the once lonely penguin who found them. And in the tradition of Jill Murphy’s “Five Minutes’ Peace” (and in the experience of mothers everywhere), the adult penguin finds herself in need of rest. “Because we all need some time to be alone . . . though being together . . . is a lot more fun!” Company, let’s face it, is a mixed bag.

PENGUIN AND PINECONE

A Friendship Story.
Written and illustrated by Salina Yoon.
40 pp. Walker & Company. $12.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6)

It doesn’t take a sophisticated grasp of global ecosystems to know that pine cones and penguins do not generally associate with each other, let alone form friendships. But penguins like company, apparently, and take it where they can get it. In this instance, Penguin decides to knit a scarf for his new pal, one to match his own orange foulard. Then the friends can play, though Penguin must eventually confront their differences and inevitable separation. Luckily, friends can still visit, despite growing up and living apart.

FLUFF AND BILLY

Written and illustrated by Nicola Killen.
32 pp. Sterling. $14.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 5)

Every child quickly learns that even among good friends there are copycats and contrarians, children who endlessly imitate and others who annoy by asserting their differences. Penguins, too, suffer such roadblocks to amity. Not only does Billy decide to throw a snowball rather than roll one, as Fluff does, he also throws his snowball in Fluff’s face. Feathers are ruffled. Feelings are hurt. But ticklish penguins know laughter can heal such disputes in this spare but sweet story.

PENGUIN’S HIDDEN TALENT

Written and illustrated by Alex Latimer.
32 pp. Peachtree. $15.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8)

“The BIG annual Talent Show was just around the corner,” and all the other animals have talents to hone. Fox can burp with uncommon force, Bear juggles appliances, Rabbit pulls himself out of a hat. Only Penguin couldn’t figure out “what his talent was.” There are plenty of arch asides that parents will enjoy in this droll little book, which shows that it may be the stars who shine, but it’s those who provide the behind-the-scenes technical support and organizational know-how who actually put the show together.

MEET AT THE ARK AT EIGHT

By Ulrich Hub.
Illustrated by Jörg Mühle.
Translated by Helena Ragg-Kirkby.
66 pp. Eerdmans. $12. (Middle grade; ages 8 to 12)

Translated from the original German, this offbeat variation on the biblical tale of Noah and the Flood involves three male penguins, a butterfly and a dove toting a messenger bag. After one penguin kills the butterfly, the dove delivers a message from God, with two invitations. Though it is filled with humor (penguins “might be completely harmless, but they have a distinctly fishy smell”) and jaunty black-and-white drawings, this is a book that takes up profound questions (“If you ask a penguin who God is, he never knows quite how to answer”), with plenty of philosophical digressions to ponder.

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