Celebrate You!

A penguin wearing a red bow tie—and an expression of uncertainty—comes home to a surprise party with parents, animal friends, balloons, cake, and lots of enthusiasm. The penguins and party guests fondly reminisce about the penguin’s hatching and milestones, and speculate on the penguin’s future. Rinker’s rhymes have a nice, chugging rhythm: “Strong will and hard work/ have led you this way./ You’ve chased all your dreams.../ Look where you are today!” Scenes show the penguin catching a massive fish through a hole in the ice, “flying” with a checkered red cape (“Nothing can stop you/ when you aim for the sky!”), and heading out on a little sailboat—a gentle whale happily guiding the boat just beneath the waves. Working in spare mixed media, Kang captures the gushing exuberance of proud parents—and the delight in being the feted penguin. Ages 4–8. [em](Mar.) [/em]