I Am Not a Penguin: A Pangolin's Lament by Liz Wong
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on January 19, 2021
ISBN: 0593127404
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

A pangolin sets up a sign inviting other animals to come and learn about pangolins. Immediately, there is confusion among the other animals. ” Did somebody say “penguins”? Oooo! I love penguins!” The confusion continues as the pangolin attempts to explain that it is not, in fact, a penguin—or an anteater, or an armadillo.

This is a funny and informative book. Kids will love the silliness and wit throughout the dialog. The illustrations are cartoonish, and the animals are all anthropomorphized in that they stand on two feet. The text is presented in speech bubbles so it can be a bit tricky for super young readers to follow, but this is a great opportunity to help kids begin to develop the skillset of following the dialog. This would be a super fun read aloud, especially for someone who does voices well. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME