Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton
Published by Candlewick Press on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 1536228656
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Chris Haughton’s book Well Done, Mommy Penguin is the story of a mommy penguin fetching dinner for her baby while daddy penguin watches. Baby penguin watches and narrates the feats of mommy penguin, while asking daddy penguin if she will be back soon. Daddy penguin reassures baby that mom will indeed come back, and though there are some seals to contend with, she does indeed return, proving moms can do just about anything! This book continues the Chris Haughton tradition of writing animals with anxiety. The prose is simple while still action-filled, intermingled with sound effects to keep the younger readers engaged. Questions are peppered throughout and the reader is offered a chance to watch mommy penguin as if they are the baby, hoping for mom’s success. The illustrations pair beautifully with the text, the deep blues of the sky and the water giving a sense of nature and expansiveness while the mom swims, and the blank slate of the snow and worry that baby penguin feels while they wait for mom to return. This book is excellent for Pre-K-2nd grade and is highly recommended for any library collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth