Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Starred Review For this amusement about emperor penguins, Philippe Coudray, known for the quirky exploits of Benjamin Bear, is joined by his brother, Jean-Luc. But be forewarned. If you think you're getting a rundown of penguin facts, you'll be disappointed (but not for long). Instead, these jaunty penguins bustling about the ice cap are here to deliver some laughs. The comic's playful narrators, a duo of downy penguin chicks, are here to disprove many longstanding theories and introduce some new ones. You might think, for example, that "from far away, all penguins look the same." Au contraire! Upon closer look, you'll see the difference: some wear mittens. The symmetrical panels, two per page, are the perfect platform for Philippe's clean lines and geometrical precision, not to mention the ideal layout for delivering the silly visual punchlines to Jean-Luc's kooky jokes. Meanwhile, the color palette, a narrow blend of frosty blues, sea greens, and flushed yellows, serves as a delightful contrast to our tuxedoed pals. While a few of the subtle quips might challenge younger readers, the charming illustrations guarantee their continued interest. A follow-up to the frames, entitled "100% Genuine, Real Facts about Penguins," helps ground this spirited approach to early abstract thought and reading comprehension.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

A twin-brother team supplies "everything you never, ever asked about penguins!" The comic's horizontal trim size allows for four-panel spreads; young emperor penguins hang out on the edges, providing narration and asking and answering silly questions in a kinda-sorta informational fashion. Philippe Coudray's crisp illustrations are rendered in a cool palette, matching the frigid setting. Back matter provides "100% genuine, real facts."

Kirkus Reviews (Sun May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Silly untruths about penguins unfold in comic-book style. The premise is to ask wacky questions about penguins and then supply even wackier answers. Short, two-paneled comic strips explain all kinds of penguin antics. How do penguins know they've reached the South Pole? When they see the road sign that indicates every direction is north, of course. Why do penguins like to stand? Because only a small amount of snow will pile on their heads. But if they lie down, a mountain will pile on their backs. Endless gags rely on snow/ice humor and also the assertion that all penguins look alike (which makes hide-and-seek difficult). The Coudray author-illustrator duo are twins—they identify with penguins when folks can't tell them apart. The foundation of silliness is set up in the title and continues with cues in the art. Penguins wear mittens, use electric space heaters, and hold umbrellas. Hopefully, readers will get the joke from the start and not take any of these to be facts. If any confusion does ensue, some "Amazing But True: 100% Genuine, Real Facts About Penguins" appear in the backmatter. From the creator of the Benjamin Bear books, absurdist humor carries across species. (Picture book. 5-8)

School Library Journal (Sun May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

K-Gr 1 Brightly colored two-panel comic strips highlight the appeal and innate comedy of look-alike penguins. The answers to silly questions (e.g., "How do penguins know they've reached the South Pole?") are more about fun than information ("Every sign points north."). A butter yellow sunmelting snow, ice, and penguin fathighlights the black-and-white penguins in their shades-of-blue world. One penguin holds a yellow umbrella sideways to stay out of the sideways-falling rain, which looks like snow, even though it's dry as a desert in the South Pole. Goofy indeed, but luscious colors invite readers into each illustration.