10 Little Penguins

The French team behind 365 Penguins recasts the (substantially thinned) flock in a surprisingly subversive pop-up with rhyming vignettes that count down from 10 as each one meets an untimely end. As the vertically oriented book progresses, the penguins engage in chancy activities on the ice: "7 little penguins dine in an igloo./ The chef heats up the rich fish stew./ Fire and ice are a dangerous mix!/ Now the little penguins are only... 6." Interactive features trigger the disappearance of each penguin—pulling one tab makes one penguin explode after overeating krill, while turning a knob lands another in a whale's mouth. The book's wicked sense of humor may trouble sensitive readers, but the final surprise in this little gem will assuage concerns. Ages 4–up. (Nov.)