ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

In the latest adventure of Tacky the penguin, Tacky earns the lead role in a performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears . As might be expected, he approaches the play a little bit differently than his companions Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect. While they practice speaking their lines, Tacky practices drawing his. And his slapstick ad-libs during the final performance are much more entertaining to the little penguins in Mrs. Beakly's School than the usual theatrical fare. It is a tough audience, but the wild little penguins are very appreciative: Best play ever! Hooray for Tackylocks! they call out at the end. Munsinger's illustrations are not quite as kooky as usual, but they are still lots of fun and suit the amusing text.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

The exuberant Tacky is back to put on a play for Mrs. Beakly's class with the help of five of his stuffy penguin friends. But with Tacky in the lead role, things get out of hand: he eats all the porridge, demolishes the set, and ends the show with a pillow fight. Lester's lively, fast-paced text and Munsinger's energetic, humorous cartoon illustrations will please Tacky fans and convert the previously uninitiated.

Kirkus Reviews

Pomposity gets one on the snoot when Tacky the Penguin ( Tacky and the Emperor , 2000, etc.) returns to take the lead in the school play. Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect—penguins all—are staging a play for Mrs. Beakly's school. Tacky is begrudgingly allowed to join and gets the role of Goldilocks, or, in this case, Tackylocks. Their lines mastered, the penguins take to the stage in front of Mrs. Beakly's class of little fuzzy and obstreperous penguin chicks. Tackylocks gallumphs his way through the performance: chowing down all the porridge (even when it is too hot or too cold); piling the chairs atop one another to get at the cookie jar on top of the cabinet; taking a great pratfall—"A penguin full of porridge does not fall like a snowflake. Cool!' cheered the Little Fuzzy Ones"—and then promptly falls asleep in the little bear's bed. The other penguins go stiffly through the motions, visibly disturbed that not all appears to be going as planned. Then Tacky explodes out of the bed and stages a pillow fight, in which all the Little Fuzzy Ones get active. The play is a crashing success; there is little wonder why, and their names aren't Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, or Perfect. Lester doesn't overdue the text, but keeps it at a crisp, droll level, and, as usual, Munsinger's illustrations catch the right proportion of absurdity and comeuppance. Another victory for oddfellows everywhere. (Picture book. 4-8)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Get ready for a return trip to that "nice icy land." Typically overenthusiastic and clueless, Tacky the penguin draws the lead part in a performance of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," even though he doesn't quite understand what a "play" is. The big day arrives, and so does the audience, a raucous, ill-behaved bunch of penguin chicks from Mrs. Beakly's School. They pay no attention until Goldilocks appears, or rather "Tackylocks," as they call her. With a huge, blond wig and full costume, Tacky stumbles on stage, knocking over props; eats all of the porridge; and stacks the three chairs one atop the other to search for dessert. The audience cheers with delight when the chairs and Tacky crash to the floor. Worn out by now, he takes all the bedding and sinks into slumber in Baby bear's cozy bed. The other players do their best to carry on, but when they pull and toss the many covers and pillows, Tacky shouts "PILLOW FIGHT!" and the chicks join the players in the melee. Munsinger's watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the hilarity with body postures and facial expressions. Each picture is a story in itself, especially the arrival of the misbehaving audience. This silliness will delight Tacky's loyal fans and win a lot of new devotees, and they'll all be watching eagerly for the next adventure.-Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL