Penguin Problems by Jory John & Lane Smith (2016).
This picture book is full of the narrator’s problems. Which means they’re the penguin kind. But basically they’re the kinds of problems anyone can relate to. The kind that stem from being bummed out about every little thing and how the world and our place in it sometimes feels completely utterly wrong, wrong, wrong.
Luckily, this little guy is hilarious.
Penguin’s problems include a cold beak and a lack of fish, the too-salty ocean, the inability to fly, and the way everybody looks the same. This narrator even mistakes the wrong penguin for his own mother. See?
The voice here is downright hysterical and as a reader you’re right there with the narrator’s list of grumbles. Until. There’s a big until in this book. The until is for a walrus. When the walrus talks, the whole tone changes. No more clipped complaints. Instead, a long zen speech about mindfulness ensues. And you know what? It works! It works in the book as a technique and it works for our little penguin’s problems. Well, sort of. You know how it is when you’re trying to be mindful and grateful and stuff. Your beak might still get cold.
A perfect prescription for a grumbly kind of mood or a book for when you want a good laugh. Penguin Problems is super clever and amusing at the same time and one of my top-shelf picture books in recent memory.
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My favorite part of the book (aside from the waddle demonstration) is the “Everybody looks the same as me” section. So, I thought this craft called for not just one penguin, but many penguins. The kind that all look pretty much the same. Enter, penguin paper dolls!
(Extra points if you spot one that’s slightly different!)
What you need:
White paper
Pencil
Scissors
Black marker; orange marker
Black colored pencil or marker
Fold an 8 1/2 by 11” sheet of paper into quarters long ways and then cut along the folds. With one long strip, fold in half and in half again until it’s all folded like a book. Then, unfold and refold accordion style.
Draw half a penguin shape along the left/folded edge of the top of the accordion booklet making sure its wing extends beyond the edge of the paper. Cut around that shape and unfold to see your paper doll penguins! Then, draw in the eyes and belly and color in. Voila! Penguins holding hands. (Repeat if you want more penguin chains.)
These would be cute on a wall, in a doorway, or as company any place. It’s nice to have company when you’re dealing with so many problems, right?
This book sounds like something I need. Should we call that “different” penguin Pinocchio? Love your penguin strings. Could use them to decorate a holiday tree. One for Santa at the—um, South Pole. He’s got to deliver lots of penguin presents there, right?
Hehe. Totally the Pinocchio penguin. 🙂
So darn cute… love it!!
Yay! Thanks so much!
Such a cute craft! I have this on request at the library 🙂
It will not disappoint—the book is a riot, a very clever one.
“Literally” the cutest penguin paperbirds ever.
You have a humpback-sized amount of patience to color all those waddlers! <3
Hahaha. Luckily, I find coloring very satisfying. (And thank you, Cathy!)
Oh! We just got this in and I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. MUST!
Gaaaaaah! Such a fun craft! 🙂 Cute book too!
Hey, thanks! 🙂