Synopses & Reviews
Can there be such a thing as too many adorable penguins?
One day a penguin sees a most unusual sight: a hat floating in the icy water. Even more unusual? Out of the hat pops a baby penguin. But not just one baby penguin . . . or even two. But a third, and a fourth, and on and on! At first the mama penguin is happy for the company. Until she realizes that taking care of a family is very hard, very tiring work, and what she could really use is just a moment alone. Yet as newcomer Melissa Guion reminds us in her adorable debut picture book, alone time is all well and good, but, it's family time that's best of all.
Perfect for any mama penguin with a family, or classroom, full of mischievous little ones. And perfect for toddlers who will smile over all the little penguins and the silliness that ensues.
Praise for Baby Penguins Everywhere!
Once there was a penguin
begins this story of the joys and difficulties that come with parenthood. . . . Superb composition leads readers from page to page, showcasing the birds antics. Spreads showing them playing in the snow, jumping rope, and tumbling are especially effective, and children will enjoy looking from group to group, discovering the variety of sports. This title can be used to talk about family, friends, and the occasional need to be alone.”School Library Journal
[W]atercolor illustrations delight in the penguins sheer cuteness. A sweet picture-book treatment of penguins and parenting.”Kirkus Reviews
"Guion's debut uses adorable penguins to salute the idea of taking time to recharge. . . They create instant, exuberant chaos, frolicking with scarves and waving their stumpy wings in the air. It's easy to enjoy their fun: Guion's forms are simple but expressive, and her spreads convey gentle excitement."Publishers Weekly
Review
"Adding ample wry humor to both his spare ink-and-watercolor pictures and minimalist text, Dunrea imbues both goslings with distinctive, endearing personalities and chronicles experiences every preschooler can recognize." Publishers Weekly, Starred
"Two books that are sure to become favorites... Young children will ask to hear these stories again and again, and they're just right for little hands." School Library Journal, Starred
"The potent combination of toddler-appealing story lines and the charismatic charm of the illustrations assure that these smartly clad geese will be marching straight into the hearts of readers." Kirkus Reviews
Gossie and Gertieand#8217;s boots are made for walking; the books they so delightfully traverse are made for treasuring.
Horn Book, Starred
and#147;Preschoolers are bound to ask for an encore reading, and theyand#8217;ll probably ask for new boots, too.and#8221; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"Alone on a patch of ice, a penguin 'enjoy[s] the peace and quiet,' but then loneliness sets in. In a lucky twist of fate, a top hat akin to one a magician might wear drifts by, '[a]nd from that hat popped a little penguin!' But then, evoking the folkloric magic porridge pot, the hat ends up holding a seemingly endless succession of little penguins. 'Now the penguin wasnt lonely anymore,' the text reports, and scenes of baby penguins frolicking about, making a snowman, playing with an array of rainbow-colored balls and a colorful string of scarves ensue. . . . [W]atercolor illustrations delight in the penguins sheer cuteness. A sweet picture-book treatment of penguins and parenting."—Kirkus Reviews
Review
A Children's Book of the Month Club Selection!
Review
"Mamas many baby penguins watch and learn all week long as she models proper penguin behavior and teaches necessary skills. Her exuberant brood reassure her that she will always be their mama, no matter how big and skillful they get. This heartwarming family story is told in simple language, appropriate for a preschool read-aloud, while mixing in some harder vocabulary ('Thursday was preening practice. Nobody liked preening practice'). Guions watercolor and pencil illustrations perfectly accompany the text, using icy blues and small splashes of color against crisp white backgrounds. The babies are full of personality, while the expression on Mamas face ranges from good-natured patience to a look during Saturday squawking that will be familiar to parents and teachers everywhere. Elementary schools and public libraries should add this lovely confection to their collections, especially where Guions Baby Penguins Everywhere!"--School Library Journal
Review
"Guion's debut uses adorable penguins to salute the idea of taking time to recharge. . . They create instant, exuberant chaos, frolicking with scarves and waving their stumpy wings in the air. It's easy to enjoy their fun: Guion's forms are simple but expressive, and her spreads convey gentle excitement. . . Guion doesn't just explain to young readers why a parent might need an occasional break, she suggests that they, too, can listen for an inner voice that tells them they're in need of quiet time."--Publishers Weekly
Review
"'Once there was a penguin…' begins this story of the joys and difficulties that come with parenthood. . . . Superb composition leads readers from page to page, showcasing the birds antics. Spreads showing them playing in the snow, jumping rope, and tumbling are especially effective, and children will enjoy looking from group to group, discovering the variety of sports. This title can be used to talk about family, friends, and the occasional need to be alone."--School Library Journal
Review
"A whimsical charmer about a great big fun-loving family."--Redbook magazine
Synopsis
Gossie is a gosling who likes to wear bright red boots every day, no matter what she is doing, and so she is heartbroken the day the boots are missing and she can't find them anywhere. An ALA Notable Book.
Synopsis
Meet Gossie, a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red bootsand#8212;every day. One morning Gossie canand#8217;t find her beloved boots. She looks everywhere for them: under the bed, over the wall, even in the barn. Preschoolers will enjoy helping Gossie find her red boots and delight in where Gossie finally finds them.
Synopsis
The first book in the preschool-perfect Gossie & Friends series by Olivier Dunrea about a small yellow gosling who goes looking for her missing boots and finds a new friend.
Gossie is a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots--every day. But one morning she can't find them This sweet story models social-emotional growth for the youngest children using simple language and adorable illustrations of baby farm animals. A family library essential that makes a perfect gift for babies and toddlers.
Synopsis
Old Bear loves Little Cub with all his heart. He makes sure that Little Cub eats all his porridge, takes a nap during their snowy walk, and wraps his red scarf tightly around his ears. Little Cub doesn't want to be told what to do, but he always listens to Old Bear because he knows that Old Bear loves him so. But when Old Bear catches a cold, it's Little Cub who knows just what to do to make Old Bear feel better.
From the creator of the Gossie and Gertie books comes a playful and charming twist on parenting.
Synopsis
Can there be such a thing as too many adorable penguins?
One day a penguin sees a most unusual sight: a hat floating in the icy water. Even more unusual? Out of the hat pops a baby penguin. But not just one baby penguin . . . or even two. But a third, and a fourth, and on and on!
At first the mama penguin is happy for the company. Until she realizes that taking care of a family is very hard, very tiring work, and what she could really use is just a moment alone. Yet as newcomer Melissa Guion reminds us in her adorable debut picture book, alone time is all well and good, but, it's together time that's best of all.
Perfect for any mama penguin with a family, or classroom, full of mischievous little ones.
Synopsis
Perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day . . . or any day!
When you're a mama penguin with lots (and lots) of little ones to take care of, the days can melt together in a blur. Monday: swimming lessons. Tuesday: sliding. Wednesday: waddling. And on and on. Mama loves her babies so much. Do they know, she wonders, just how much?
As it turns out, they do--because they love her just as much! And to show it, they surprise her with a thoughtful gesture of their own on Sunday.
In her companion to Baby Penguins Everywhere!, Melissa Guion offers another adorable book for sharing between mother and child. A perfect Valentine's Day, Mother's Dayor any daygift for the person who is always there for us.
Synopsis
Gossie, the first storyand#160;in the GossieandFriends series by Olivier Dunrea, is back in a new early reader edition. Simple text and expressive illustrations make this story perfect for level 1 readers. Look for the companionand#160;Gossie and Gertie early reader edition!
Synopsis
Gossie, the first story in the GossieandFriends series by Olivier Dunrea, is now available as an early reader! Gossie is a gosling who loves to wear her bright red boots every day. One day her boots go missing. Before long she finds them . . . on someone else's feet!and#160;This simple story of friendship and sharing, with its expressive illustrations and childlike gosling characters, shines in this new Level 1 Greenand#160;Light Reader. This is just the right book for young readers who are beginning to decode stories on their own. Features a bonus audio book download so kids can listen and read along. Look for the companionand#160;Gossie andand#160;Gertie early reader edition!
About the Author
Melissa Guion studied English at Yale and worked on Wall Street, but left that behind to "wander around." This consisted of making puppets in France and performing with improvisational theater companies. She now lives in Brooklyn and has a five-year-old daughter, Holly. When she's not working on her book (she is a mostly self-taught artist), which is most of the time, she studies the drums or shirks her responsibilities. You can visit Melissa Guion at www.melissaguion.com and follow her on Twitter @MelissaGuion.