Publication March 5, 2024
Lucas the penguin is looking for new friends. He finds a large group of penguins but fears he may not fit in. This is his story.
The theme of this story is basically that we're all unique. From a distance we may look alike but each of us is different. Beautifully illustrated, all the more because the frigid looking ice came as I'm living in negative number temps here in Alaska, this book introduces us to the unique characters that make up the penguin group. Although there is no true story to this one, the theme of "being different is okay" is strongly stressed throughout. It embraces diversity, from looking different to having different talents and skills, disabilities, or, yes, differences in sexual orientation. Some will criticize the book for that, I'm sure, but it's a legit difference we encounter in life, often without us being aware.
What the book does do is introduce us to the very similar yet subtly different penguins in the group. I kept waiting for them to genuinely interact but while each was thoroughly described, we were told about them, not shown. Thus, while conveying its message, I wonder how well the book will hold the attention of the targeted age group. Despite that concern, I enjoyed the illustrations and ideas behind the book and thank #NetGalley and #NorthSouthBooks for giving me a sneak peek. Penguins have always fascinated me, so this was a fun adventure for me.
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