ALA Booklist

Mama Penguin and her waddle of baby penguins are always busy, with classes every day of the week: swimming on Monday, sliding on Tuesday, preening on Thursday. A mother's job is never done, until Sunday, that is, when she gets to take a long nap. Mama Penguin is proud of her diligent brood, and she looks forward to the day when they are as adept at penguin skills as she is. When one suggests that they might eventually be better than she is, this leaves her at a loss. What will her purpose be then? The answer is cute and heartfelt, and it will be much appreciated on Mother's Day. Guion's companion to Baby Penguins Everywhere! (2012) has a message that should resonate with parents who find themselves at the mercy of their children's busy schedules. Although the penguins are rendered in blacks and grays, the watercolors stand out against the copious white space (courtesy of Antarctica), in a style reminiscent of Oliver Jeffers. Because of the many baby penguins, there is lots to notice in the illustrations. A sweet book with broad appeal.

Horn Book

Mama Penguin and her young chicks' weekly routine includes lessons in swimming, sliding, waddling, preening, fishing, and squawking; busy Mama rests on Sunday. It's all harder than it seems, but soon they'll be "even better" than Mama--what will she do then? (The answer is quite sweet.) Delicate watercolor and pencil illustrations against a white background convey the simple story's icy setting.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Guion follows her 2012 debut, Baby Penguins Everywhere!, with another reminder that being a mama, penguin or otherwise, can be exhausting at times. The book takes readers through the large penguin family-s busy week, from swimming and sliding lessons on Monday and Tuesday to Friday fishing. -And everyone loved Saturday squawking!- writes Guion of the weekend, though Mama-s pinched facial expression tells another story. Sunday is a much-needed day of rest, but Guion-s quietly humorous writing and soft watercolors make it clear that, more than anything, Mama penguin is proud of her babies and their accomplishments. Ages 3-5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

PreS-K Mama's many baby penguins watch and learn all week long as she models proper penguin behavior and teaches necessary skills. Her exuberant brood reassure her that she will always be their mama, no matter how big and skillful they get. This heartwarming family story is told in simple language, appropriate for a preschool read-aloud, while mixing in some harder vocabulary ("Thursday was preening practice. Nobody liked preening practice"). Guion's watercolor and pencil illustrations perfectly accompany the text, using icy blues and small splashes of color against crisp white backgrounds. The babies are full of personality, while the expression on Mama's face ranges from good-natured patience to a look during Saturday squawking that will be familiar to parents and teachers everywhere. Elementary schools and public libraries should add this lovely confection to their collections, especially where Guion's Baby Penguins Everywhere! (Philomel, 2012) is popular. Rebecca Dash Donsky, New York Public Library