Penguin Chick FROM THE PUBLISHER
An emperor penguin lays an egg on the Antarctic ice. In the bitter cold, miles away from the only source of food, how can the chick survive?
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature
This fine entry in the "Let's Read and Find Out" series explores the Emperor penguin species living on Antarctica pack ice. In informative and simple prose, Tatham tells how these penguins nest, incubate the single egg, take turns eating and caring for the egg and chick, and exhibit typical penguin behavior such as tobogganing and huddling in creches. There is no mention of penguin predators such as Orcas and leopard seals but small pictures show the kinds of food penguins eat. In addition, there is a modest chart which compares chick growth over a year and back matter which gives information about five of the seventeen penguin species and includes advice for walking and tobogganing like a penguin. Davie's artful and attractive watercolor illustrations show necessary details interestingly. Sandra Markle's also excellent Penguins (Growing Up Wild) (Atheneum, 2002) covers some of the same generic information about penguins but discusses Adelie penguin behavior instead, features an index and glossary, something about predators, and is aimed at a slightly older readers 2002, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-This title focuses on one emperor penguin family's survival. The parents' care of their young is central, shown by deft yet perfunctory watercolors depicting a harsh, challenging habitat. The danger of the baby's starvation is emphasized; one adult must keep it protected from the elements and the other must fish for food and return in time to feed it before it dies. Trading places, the caregivers share these duties until the chick is old enough for both adult birds to hunt for food together. A summary of a penguin's life up to the laying of an egg is followed by a section that describes the egg laying and nesting patterns of kings, Ad lies, rockhoppers, jackasses, and little blues. Brenda Guiberson's The Emperor Lays an Egg (Holt, 2001) and Martin Jenkins's The Emperor's Egg (Candlewick, 1999) will have wider appeal because of their sparkling language and vibrant art. This book's value rests on its accessibility to beginning readers.-Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Newcomer Tatham offers a clearly written, well-researched chronicle of a penguin's growth cycle from egg to young adult in this Stage 2 addition to the ever-reliable Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. The chronological narrative uses short but interesting sentences to describe the loving care of the penguin parents and the varied sounds the birds use to communicate. The attractive design includes large illustrations on every page, with text blocks often set on colored backgrounds integrated into the art. Davie's (The Night Rainbow, 2000, etc.) illustrations show the penguins in motion (swimming, sliding, and waddling along in their peculiarly penguinesque way), as well as standing stoically against swirls of spatter-painted snow. An author's note offers details about several kinds of penguins and penguin movement. Guiberson's The Emperor Lays an Egg (p. 1549) covers similar frozen ground with more notable illustrations, but with a longer text that isn't as accessible to young readers. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)
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