Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon

   

     Ahh.... a tropical island paradise.  What I wouldn't give to be able to transport myself to a place where I can sit, relax, listen to the waves of the ocean while reading a good book.  The very sight of the cover of author/illustrator Salina Yoon's story--featuring a little penguin, clad in a magenta flowered lea, holding onto a suitcase, and clutching a beach ball on the seashore, brought these wonderful thoughts to my mind, as well as an instant smile on my face this week, on a gloomy, humid, rainy Monday morning.  

     As our tale begins, after dealing with months of continual snow, poor little Penguin decides that the time has come for him to escape on a vacation.  But, where should he go?  Quickly, inspiration strikes as he spots a cruise ship in the distance.  "That's it!  I'll go on vacation to the beach."  He packs his suitcase and sets off, adrift on an iceberg heading for surf, sand and sunshine!  

     However, as soon as he arrives, sweet little Penguin quickly starts to realize that the warm draw of the tropics isn't quite what he anticipated, and begins to feel homesick.  A little crab, instinctively sensing Penguin's feelings, kindly shows him that even though the island isn't quite like his snowy hometown, he has so many new things to learn, see and explore on the island.  But alas, all good things come to an end, and Penguin bids goodbye to his tropical paradise, and his new friend, and returns home.  A surprise comes Penguin's way, in the form of a visit from his pal crab, who, just like Penguin, was starting to grow tired of the island, and longed to see the snowy land that Penguin calls home.  And, just as Penguin's vacation ended, little crab has to return home to the island, but he leaves Penguin with a sweet note that arrives in, what else, a crab shell that says, "I shell return."  Penguin on Vacation is an absolutely adorable book that shows children in a gentle way the joy of experiencing new places, trying new things outside of our comfort zone, and the power of friendship.

Penguin on Vacation
Written & Illustrated by Salina Yoon
Publisher:  Walker Childrens, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (2013)
For ages 3 to 6
Accelerated Reader Book Level:  1.5
Accelerated Reader Points: 0.5

Retails for $14.99 (Hardcover)