Jonty Gentoo, a brave, determined zoo penguin, embarks on an epic journeyWhen Jonty Gentoo hears about penguin colonies at the South Pole, he yearns to go there. Eventually he escapes, leaving his loving aunts (no parents are mentioned) and caring keepers in search of adventure. Unclear on the concept of a geographic pole (he's initially confused when he encounters a flagpole, a barge pole, and a tent pole) and tired of walking, he jumps into the sea and delightedly swims through sparkling, food-filled waters. But when he emerges onto the ice, he finds no penguins, even after weeks pass. Bearded seals threaten to eat him, and the polar bear who saves him breaks the news: Jonty has traveled north. A tern accustomed to globe-spanning migration offers guidance, and "the bird in the sea and the bird in the air" travel south. Exhausted, Jonty lucks onto an Antarctic expedition ship and is taken aboard. On land he sees emperor and Adélie penguins and finally a "heartwarming huddle of gorgeous gentoos." The story is heartwarming, too, and the rhythms rock us through the miles of migration with reassuring and spot-on rhymes. Jonty and the bear are accurately depicted, though slightly anthropomorphized. Scheffler's firmly outlined art gives humans (who vary in skin tone) flat profiles but depicts whales, swordfish, owl, seals, and more in beautiful color and detail.The small hero's grit and happy ending guarantee another success for this popular author and illustrator duo.(Picture book. 4-8)

PreS-Gr 1— Jonty Gentoo, the gentoo penguin, loves living at the zoo with his aunts, but the stories they share have him dreaming of meeting other penguins at the South Pole. One night, Jonty Gentoo takes a brave step into the unknown to find his way to his kin on the other side of the world. Unfortunately, Jonty Gentoo's travels take him too far in the opposite direction, and he must rely on newfound friends to help reorient him. This clever, rhyming picture book imagines what life would be like for a penguin who is determined enough to travel the length of the globe to meet his relations. The text itself is beautifully designed to be read aloud, using rhyming lines and a predictable meter. This gives the book a singsong quality that will also invite young children to fill in the ends of sentences and phrases when appropriate. Alongside the text, the illustrations are childlike and accessible, providing plenty of detail for children to examine more closely. Originally published in the UK, the book incorporates a handful of words that may be less familiar to a U.S. audience, but the narrative has a wide reach. At the end, a brief note provides some nonfiction context for Jonty Gentoo's fictional tale. VERDICT A fun and imaginative story to read aloud with young children.— Mary R. Lanni

Jonty Gentoo, a brave, determined zoo penguin, embarks on an epic journeyWhen Jonty Gentoo hears about penguin colonies at the South Pole, he yearns to go there. Eventually he escapes, leaving his loving aunts (no parents are mentioned) and caring keepers in search of adventure. Unclear on the concept of a geographic pole (he's initially confused when he encounters a flagpole, a barge pole, and a tent pole) and tired of walking, he jumps into the sea and delightedly swims through sparkling, food-filled waters. But when he emerges onto the ice, he finds no penguins, even after weeks pass. Bearded seals threaten to eat him, and the polar bear who saves him breaks the news: Jonty has traveled north. A tern accustomed to globe-spanning migration offers guidance, and "the bird in the sea and the bird in the air" travel south. Exhausted, Jonty lucks onto an Antarctic expedition ship and is taken aboard. On land he sees emperor and Adélie penguins and finally a "heartwarming huddle of gorgeous gentoos." The story is heartwarming, too, and the rhythms rock us through the miles of migration with reassuring and spot-on rhymes. Jonty and the bear are accurately depicted, though slightly anthropomorphized. Scheffler's firmly outlined art gives humans (who vary in skin tone) flat profiles but depicts whales, swordfish, owl, seals, and more in beautiful color and detail.The small hero's grit and happy ending guarantee another success for this popular author and illustrator duo.(Picture book. 4-8)