Penguin Problems Explained

Penguin Problems
Author:Jory John
Illustrator:Lane Smith
Country:USA
Language:English
Genre:Children's picture book
Published:2016 (Random House)
Media Type:Print (hardback)
Pages:29 (unpaginated)
Isbn:9780553513370
Oclc:960168963

Penguin Problems is a 2016 Children's picture book by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith. It is about a penguin that complains about his situation. They would later follow that up with Giraffe Problems (2018) and Cat Problems (2021).

Reception

Penguin Problems was well-received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who said the book is "well-paced, bursting with humor, and charmingly misanthropic."[1] Jan Carr, writing for Common Sense Media, gave the book four out of five stars.[2]

Multiple praised John's writing. Booklist's Sarah Hunter highlighted the book's "wry humor", as did Publishers Weekly, who said, "John [...] delivers a rat-a-tat series of laughs".[3] Sam Bloom, writing for Horn Book Magazine, added, "The temperature may be below freezing, but the snark level is cranked up high in this collaboration between funnymen John and Smith."[4] The New York Timess Michael Ian Black called the book "funny and acerbic".[5]

Reviewers also highlighted Smith's illustrations, which Booklist's Smith called "distinctive".[6] Publishers Weekly said the "minimalist polar landscapes highlight the penguin's awkward moments". The New York Times's Black highlighted the "evocative illustrations of endless cold, frightful inky depths and the spartan beauty of Antarctic mountain peaks".

School Library Journals Joy Fleishhacker also complimented the "sublime pairing", which she says "results in a rib-tickling exploration of what it means to look at the unsunny side."[7]

Awards and honors

Penguin Problems is a Junior Library Guild book.[8] The Irish Times named it one of the best children's books of 2016,[9] and Bank Street College of Education included it on their 2017 list of the year's best children's books.[10]

Awards for Penguin Problems!Year!Award!Result!Ref.
2016Kirkus Prize for Young ReadersNominee
2018-2019Prairie Bloom Book AwardNominee
2019Beehive AwardNominee[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Penguin Problems . Kirkus Reviews . Kirkus Media LLC . December 26, 2021.
  2. Web site: Carr . Jan . Penguin Problems Book Review . 2023-09-11 . . en . This knowing, witty look at penguin (and human) nature, is best for kids with an offbeat sense of humor. . 2023-03-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322165435/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/penguin-problems . live .
  3. Web site: 2016-06-13 . Penguin Problems by Jory John . 2023-09-11 . . 2023-05-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530073714/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780553513370 . live .
  4. Web site: Bloom . Sam . 2016 . Penguin Problems . 2023-09-11 . . . 2021-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211226010443/https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S82C1615604/reviews . live .
  5. News: Black . Michael Ian . 2016-11-11 . Is Life Fair? Four Picture Books Say No . . 2021-12-26 . “Penguin Problems,” written by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith, is for all those parents whose own darling Peters and Peytons and Tylers and Tristans occasionally (and I am sure it is only very occasionally) metamorphose into that little penguin. . 2021-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206012002/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/books/review/penguin-problems-jory-john-and-more.html . live .
  6. Web site: Hunter . Sarah . August 2016 . Penguin Problems . 2023-09-10 . . 2021-10-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019014249/https://www.booklistonline.com/Penguin-Problems-Jory-John/pid=8153975 . live .
  7. Web site: Fleishhacker . Joy . 2016-08-01 . Penguin Problems . 2023-09-11 . . 2023-09-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230911030744/https://www.slj.com/review/penguin-problems . live .
  8. Web site: Penguin Problems by Jory John . live . 2021-10-11 . Junior Library Guild . 2021-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211011030208/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9780375974656J&name=Penguin_Problems .
  9. News: Claire Hennessy . December 18, 2016 . Worthy and wonderful: The best children's and YA fiction of 2016 . The Irish Times . December 26, 2021 . January 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220123072821/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/worthy-and-wonderful-the-best-children-s-and-ya-fiction-of-2016-1.2891455 . live .
  10. Book: The Best Children's Books of the Year 2017 Edition . Bank Street College of Education . 2017 . 19 . Five to Nine: Humor . 1523-6471 . December 26, 2021 . December 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211226032016/https://educate.bankstreet.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=ccl . live .
  11. Web site: Children's Fiction Books—Beehive Nominees 2019 . live . 2021-10-10 . Children's Literature Association of Utah . 2021-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211011030208/http://www.claubeehive.org/uploads/1/5/5/6/15561978/2019_winners___nominees.pdf .

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