Synopses & Reviews
"A-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff" "WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Tacky the penguin wants to know. The Winter Games, that's what's happening. And Tacky and his fellow penguins Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect have to work hard to get in shape so they can represent Team Nice Icy Land in the athletic competitions. After rigorous training, they're ready - but are the games ready for Tacky? Will his antics keep Team Nice Icy Land from winning a medal? From bobsledless racing and ski jumping to speed skating, Tacky lends his unique, exuberant style to each competition. In laugh-out-loud scenes of Tacky and his fellow penguins' athletic debacles, Tacky reminds readers of the underlying joy and enthusiasm that propells athletes to greatness. So get ready to cheer for Team Nice Icy Land and let the games begin!
Review
andquot;Yee continues his Mouse and Mole series with another winning installment....As in the series' previous titles, catchy rhymes, brisk dialogue, onomatopoeic sounds, and winsome ink and watercolor illustrations will easily draw new readers to this seasonal, episodic friendship story.andquot;andmdash;Gillian Engberg, Booklist
andquot;Young readers will likely enjoy the simple irony and straightforward plot, while the many color illustrations reinforce the action and help them in in their transition to beginning chapter books.andquot;andmdash;School Library Journal
Mouse and Mole, Fine Feathered Friends
A 2010 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Award Winner
A Brand New Day with Mouse and Mole
andquot;The stories are light, with simple plots, and the lively and expressive watercolor illustrations add energy and detail. A worthwhile addition to easy-reader collections.andquot;andmdash;School Library Journal
Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole
*andquot;These two are a lovely addition to the pantheon of easy-reader pals.andquot;andmdash;School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;The friendly, cooperative tone of the text is reminiscent of the Frog and Toad series.andquot; andndash; Kirkus
andquot;[T]he artwork nicely reinforces the story's action, the closeness between friends, and shared wonder in nature's magic.andquot;andmdash;and#160;Booklist
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
andquot;The expressive bamboo-pen and watercolor with colored-pencil illustrations capture the humor of the situations as well as the emotions of the characters. With its controlled vocabulary, repetition, and humor, this tale of friendship also introduces opposites, homophones, and letter writing. A real winner.andquot;andmdash;School Library journal
andquot;Kids will become more proficient at reading and also come away with a lesson in friendship.andquot;andmdash;Booklist
Review
"Droll facial expressions, which still retain their animal quality, add more humor to a perceptive text about being different." Booklist, ALA
Review
"Hip, hip hooray! Tacky's back, along with his proper penguin pals . . . Tacky fans will flip for this title." School Library Journal
Review
"Tacky the Penguin returns for a seventh adventure, his funniest yet . . . . And itand#8217;s nothing short of hilarious to witness Tacky in his bulgy sleeping bag, unknowingly lying atop a huge pile of leftover sand#8217;mores that, despite his valiant efforts, and#8220;he just...couldnand#8217;t...quite...finnnnish.and#8221; In the end, as usual, the lovable slob saves the day, and the campers discover that their best defense against a ravenous, campsite-raiding bear is a sand#8217;more-addled penguin."and#8212;
Horn Book, starred review
"Lesterand#8217;s well-paced, witty tale is sure to please fans of the Tacky series, while the colorful ink-and-wash artwork will have them laughing out loud. A refreshingly different summer-camp story, this is a fine addition to a consistently amusing series."and#8212;Booklist
"As always, Tacky brings his larger-than-life personality to the excursion: his camping supplies include a television, pizza and roller blades; his and#8220;arts and craftsand#8221; project is a sprawling, abstract style painting; and he tips the canoe and canand#8217;t tell a good scary story. Munsingerand#8217;s art adds plenty of humor, up through the finale when Tacky proves his worth."and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"This is laugh-out-loud material for loyal Tacky fans and an excellent choice for new arrivals in the Nice Icy Land."and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
"The comical illustrations, silly mistaken-identity concept and the impossibly dim hunters' hilarious comments all add up to a funny, entertaining read proving once again that Tacky is 'a nice bird to have around.'"and#8212;
Kirkus Reviews "Solid for reading aloud, especially in December. Munsinger's appealing watercolors illustrate the story with humor and finesse."and#8212;
Booklist "Munsinger's jolly illustrations ratchet up the silliness of Lester's laugh-out-loud story, and Tacky is as Tacky as ever."and#8212;The Horn Book
and#160; and#160;
Review
"Munsinger's Antarctic animal characters are easy to warm up to, and Lester's energetic story keeps pace with the silliness. Go, Tacky, go!" and#151;Horn Book Horn Book
Review
"Tacky, the delightful penguin who marches to a different drummer is back in another funny an charming tale. . . . Children will think this book is a riot and wonand#8217;t even realize that a message is being delivered and#151; a charming one about the joys of non-conformtiy." and#151;Kirkus Reviews Kirkus Reviews
"Lester and Munsinger have again succeeded in creating a delightful Antarctic-of-the-imagination." and#151;Booklist Booklist, ALA
"As always, Munsingerand#8217;s ink and watercolor renditions of the birds exude personality, while Lesterand#8217;s story packs the double whammy of high entertainment value with an easily digestible lesson." and#151;Horn Book (Nov/Dec 2000) Horn Book
Review
"Lester doesn't overdue the text, but keeps it at a crisp, droll level, and, as usual, Munsinger's illustrations catch the right proportion of absurdity and comeuppance. Another victory for oddfellows everywhere." Kirkus Reviews
"Munsinger's watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the hilarity with body postures and facial expressions... This silliness will delight Tacky's loyal fans and win a lot of new devotees, and they'll all be watching eagerly for the next adventure." School Library Journal
"Tacky steals the show." Publishers Weekly
and#147;Muningerand#8217;s penguins retain their comic charmand#133;and#8221; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
Fans of previous adventures of the spunky little penguin will welcome this latest, which is probably Tacky's goofiest escapade yet. While his boring fellow penguins nap comfortably atop their iceberg, Tacky takes off on a solitary ice-surfing expedition, landing on a tropical isle. An elephant mistakes his billowing flowered shirt for a bouquet and takes Tacky home to dress up her dreary kitchen table. Convincing the deluded elephant that he's a penguin not a posy takes some doing, but Tacky finally manages it with his usual relish, leaving behind with his hostess a colorful reminder of his unexpected visit. The illustrations will sell the story.
Booklist, ALA
The story will appeal to children who know that making a mess can cause trouble. The soft, watercolor illustrations and simple story line make this a good choice for reading aloud.
School Library Journal
Synopsis
Yippee! It is a winter wonderland! What better day for Mouse and Mole to go sledding, whirl around on ice skates, and build snowmen together?
But Mole does not want to go outside. Too cold! Too windy! He prefers to stay as snug as a bug in a rug inside his nice, warm bed.
Mouse is lonely. Ice skating and sledding just arenandrsquo;t as fun for one. Then she gets an ideaandhellip;a Sno-Mole might do the trick! Mole wonandrsquo;t be needing his hat or scarf or mittensandhellip;or will he?
Sometimes even best friends want to do different things. But at the end of a cold winterandrsquo;s day, it's nice to know that your best friend will be there waiting for you, with warm mittens and all.
Synopsis
and#147;Delightful. . . . A real winner.and#8221;and#151;School Library Journal and#147;The friendly, cooperative tone of the text is reminiscent of the Frog and Toad series.and#8221;and#151;Kirkus Reviews and#147;Yeeand#8217;s comfy beginning reader (dedicated to and#145;Friends of Frog and Toadand#8217;) . . . packs in plenty of sweetness and civility.and#8221;and#151;Publishers Weekly
Mouse and Mole are neighbors.
Mouse lives inside an oak tree, and Mole lives in a hole underneath.
They are neighbors, but they are also friends.
Sometimes friends make mistakesand#151;but they always try to help each other out. That is what Mouse and Mole do.
Synopsis
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!and#160;It's the Holiday Mice dressed upand#160;for aand#160;dayand#160;ofand#160; Fourth of July funand#8212;a parade, a picnic, a baseball game, a swim and a sack race. And to top it off,and#160;sparklers andand#160;fireworks!and#160;With simple words, short sentences, rhyme, and repetition, thisand#160;easy readerand#160;is a high-flyingand#160;way to welcome Level 1 beginners and the start of summer.and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
and#8220;A light, rhymed romp through the holiday.and#8221;
and#8212;Publishers WeeklyHooray! It's the Fourth of July, and the parade is ready to start!and#160;Theand#160;Holiday Miceand#160;lead the wayand#160;to a day full of nonstopand#160;fun, includingand#160;a picnic, a baseball game, a sack race, and a splashy-sploshyand#160;dip in the stream.and#160;The best partand#160;comes at the end of the day whenand#160;fireworks goand#160;BOOM!and#160;BOOM!and#160;BOOM!and#160; Level 1 beginnersand#160;willand#160;delight in the wordplay, rhyme, and repetition.and#160;Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
Tackys an odd bird, or Penguin rather, who likes to do splashy cannonballs and greet his companions with a loud “Whats happening?” In fact, hes something of an eccentric, which his fellow penguins find somewhat bothersome until his odd behavior saves the day!
Synopsis
Tacky's perfect friends find him annoying until his odd behavior saves the day.
Synopsis
Tacky and his friends prepare for the arrival of the Emperor!
Synopsis
Itand#8217;s common knowledge that Tacky was never the best-dressed penguin, but when he and his friends prepare for the arrival of the emperor, Tacky gets carried away and ends up in more than just elegant attire! Tacky brings his own unique brand of humor and entertainment to the emperorand#8217;s visit. Here is another wacky addition to Tackyand#8217;s myriad adventures in which friendship, kindness, and laughter always win out! Tacky fans will be carried to new heights of hilarity by this Tacky tale.
Synopsis
Tacky mustand#160;use all of his best penguin moves to wriggle himself out of a hilarious jungle mix-up when he finds himself on a tropical island with an elephant.
Synopsis
Tacky the Penguin goes windsurfing and ends up on a tropical island, captive to an elephant who, upon seeing Tackyand#8217;s floral Hawaiian shirt, mistakes him for a bouquet of flowers. The elephant thinks that Tacky would make a pretty centerpiece, so she arranges him in a vase and sets him on her table. Tackyand#8217;s fans are sure to delight in the show as Tacky uses all of his best penguin moves to wriggle himself out of this hilarious jungle mix-up. Only the team of Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger could pull off a tale of such far-fetched adventure. They are masters at the art of creating silly stories and beloved characters that make children laugh out loud.
Synopsis
Tacky and his fellow penguins have to work hard to get in shape so they can represent Team Nice Icy Land in the Winter Games. After rigorous training, they're ready - but are the games ready for Tacky?
Synopsis
Tacky the Penguin is back, this time trying to compete with Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect in the iceberg-wide Penguin Cheering Contest. But will Tacky ever be able to learn the synchronized moves and win the contest?
Synopsis
Tacky takes the lead in an unforgettable performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears!
Synopsis
How do you keep a crowd of energetic young penguins entertained? Put on a play, perhaps? But will they pay attention through an entire performance? If Tackyand#8217;s center stage, they might. Even dressed up in his flowing blond wig and little red and#147;skipping shoes,and#8221; everyoneand#8217;s favorite misfit penguin imbues the character of Goldilocks with his own indomitable personality and style. So what if the set is in shambles? This is one performance Mrs. Beaklyand#8217;s students wonand#8217;t soon forget.
Synopsis
Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger's beloved penguin Tacky saves the day (in unique style, of course) in another adventure in Nice Icy Land--now available in paperback!
Synopsis
Tacky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy
some Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and Capture the Ice Cube. One night, they gather
around the campfire to sing, eat sand#8217;mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed,
something straight out of one of their scary stories pays the sleeping penguins a visit.
Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect think they should hightail it out of there,
but not Tacky!
Synopsis
This exuberant picture book tells the story of Tony, a little boy who helps his father in the family pizzeria. and#8220;The scenes are full of visually boisterous activity, with under-pinnings of humorous detail and a clear sense of family closeness so important to the story. A decidedly fresh-looking book.and#8221;--
BooklistSynopsis
Deck the iceberg wrap a gifty Fa la la la la la la la la... and#160; Tacky, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect are celebrating the holiday with good cheer, singing, and lots of presents. Tackyand#8217;s present is a little bit different, and not exactly what his friends had in mind, but when the Christmas merrymaking is interrupted by hunters in search of pretty penguins, it's Tacky's gift that helps to save the dayand#8230;. and#160; A bonus CD of original carols includes: Deck the Iceberg, Sandy Clawz is Coming to Town, The Six Days of Christmas, Iand#8217;m Dreaming of a Green Christmas, and Oh Tackytree! and#160;
About the Author
It is a blustery spring day, and Mouse and Mole are very excited. They are going to go bird watching! They are planning to make bird books! It turns out, birds are not so easy to watch. Splashing in puddles and stepping on leaves scares them away. Mole rubs his snout. Mouse twirls her tail. Together, they come up with a plan to get closer to the birds. A plan that includes glue and feathers . . . Burgeoning readers will be transfixed as they join Mouse and Mole on another high-flying adventure in which teamwork, brainstorming, and good ideas always make for a fun day out!
A Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Award Winner!!
Praise forA Brand New Day with Mouse and Mole
"The stories are light, with simple plots, and the lively and expressive watercolor illustrations add energy and detail. A worthwhile addition to easy-reader collections."and#8212;School Library Journal
Praise forAbracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole
"These two are a lovely addition to the pantheon of easy-reader pals."and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
"Frequent, small frames resembling comic-book cells are sprinkled among the full-page illustrations, pulling the reader forward. Warm nighttime charcoal-and-gouache hues make the magic of Mouse's natural world warm and inviting to new readers."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
"[T]he artwork nicely reinforces the story's action, the closeness between friends, and shared wonder in nature's magic."and#8212;Booklist
Praise for Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
"The expressive bamboo-pen and watercolor with colored-pencil illustrations capture the humor of the situations as well as the emotions of the characters. With its controlled vocabulary, repetition, and humor, this tale of friendship also introduces opposites, homophones, and letter writing. A real winner."and#8212;School Library journal
"Kids will become more proficient at reading and also come away with a lesson in friendship."and#8212;Booklist
"In their latest round of endearing adventures, best pals Mouse and Mole suit up excitedly for a day of springtime bird-watching, but before they can focus their binoculars, each of their subjects flies away. Compromising and cooperating are the themes as the friends find elaborate, creative solutions to their problems and make a final project that celebrates their individual talents. Once again, transitional readers will enjoy the well-paced textand#8217;s wordplay (including lots of puns); the gentle, realistic friendship conflicts; and the ink-and-watercolor artwork that captures the storyand#8217;s humor, action, and feeling."and#8212; Gillian Engberg,Booklist
WONG HERBERT YEEand#160;lives in Michigan, where he writes and illustrates books for
children. He emerges from his mole hole on occasion for walks at the nature center nearby. Some of his books include theMouse and Moleseries and theFireman Smallseries.and#160;For a complete list of books by Wong Herbert Yee, visit www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com. For more information about Wong, visit his Web site at http://hometown.aol.com/wongherbertyee/