As the title implies, this delightful collection of 13 poems describes the antics of baby penguins in their icy Antarctic home. Sierra mixes things up with short, medium, and longer poems, and even throws in some riddles describing penguin predators for guessing-game fun. Kids will love these high-energy, humorous poems, with some factual information about penguin life woven in. Aruego and Dewey do a nice job of giving readers a feel for the penguins' beautiful but chilly habitat, and though the pictures don't quite live up to the humor of the text, they are lively and fun. This collection will work as well in a poetry unit as in a unit on the Antarctic, and, of course, it will be a great addition to a story time with a penguin or animal theme. (Reviewed May 1, 1998)

With illustrations that complement the poems' humorous tone, this lively collection depicts the Antarctic from the perspective of emperor penguin chicks. The poems describe the penguins leaping into icy water for a first swim, identifying mother by her unique sound, and waiting patiently to be fed (with regurgitated food from dad). Bib.

A blithe collection of poems about emperor penguins based on factual information about the species. The book opens with "A Hatchling's Song": "I'm pecking hard./I'm tired, I'm weak,/It hurts my beak . . . . My head's outside./The moon is bright—/The world's so white!" While his mother takes a vacation, the hatchling settles in on his father's feet, snuggled into the soft belly fluff. It's a warm, safe place until the father takes a walk, provoking one of the funniest spreads, with the hatchling hanging on for dear life. "Regurgitate" is a humorous look at the youngster's dinner time. The young penguins make note of penguin enemies in the inventive "Predator Riddles." The penguins grow up: "Be My Penguin" is an adolescent courtship song that pokes fun at young love. The animated, icy doings are faithfully chronicled by Aruego and Dewey, but lest readers think this is all tongue-in-cheek, the author includes short list of further information. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8)

Narrated by an antic pack of penguins, poems like "Antarctic Anthem" ("Antarctica! Antarctica!/ Where winter days are dark-tica") humorously teach readers about life in an emperor penguin colony. Ages 3-7. (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Apr.)

K-Gr 3--These poems recount the imaginary life of a colony of emperor penguins as seen through the eyes of newly hatched chicks. The rhyming stanzas are sometimes awkward, but all in all a lighthearted spirit of fun and mischievousness prevails. Riddles about predators round out the collection, with answers found by turning the page. Whimsical, cartoonlike pen-and-watercolor illustrations of cavorting penguins reinforce the playful mood of the verses. This is a strictly additional purchase, but it might add a light touch to a unit on the antarctic.--Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY