In this whimsical picture book, Penguin Blue launches his kite for the first time and is literally swept away: "The kite so high. The wind so strong. / It's pulling Penguin Blue along." A couple penguin buddies try to anchor him, but they also get caught up, as do Wilbur the walrus and Clive the polar bear. They all get blown across the sea to a tropical island, which, while lovely, is much too warm. They rig up a palm frond parachute and obliging elephants blow them homeward. Soon they are back safe and sound, along with a surprise stowaway. Biddulph's stylized illustrations on appealingly patterned backgrounds are delightful, and their cartoonish appearance enhances the unexpected twists and turns of this romp. The story unfolds through short, snappy four-line rhymes that complement the quirky drawings. Enthusiasts of Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger's Tacky the Penguin series and those who enjoy the wry humor of Mo Willems will be enthralled by this author's inaugural offering.

Penguin Blue tries to fly a kite; it flies him instead. All the animals who try to help end up airborne as well, and they land on a lush island. Ingenuity and the help of new friends whooossh the accidental travelers back to "solid ice." Jaunty rhyming text propels the lighthearted story forward; digital illustrations present the situation and characters with deadpan humor.

PreS-Gr 2 When Penguin Blue's new kite catches a strong wind, he calls to friends Jeff and Flo for help, but soon all three are aloft. Wilbur the seal and, perplexingly, a polar bear named Clive attempt to reel in the penguins only to find themselves swept away with the others. Crash-landing in the jungle, they find that the novelty of a new environment momentarily distracts them from the uncomfortable heat, but it's not long before these polar animals are piling into Clive's inflatable raft, rigging up some leaves and vines as a sail, and, with a whoosh of air from an obliging elephant, sailing back to their icy home. Biddulph's digital illustrations use clean lines and generous white space to establish an icy setting in shades of blue that contrasts nicely with the greens and yellows of the busy jungle spreads. Plenty of fun background moments, including a whale school bus and a monkey stowaway, will keep young audiences engaged, and the droll, expressionless characters add an additional element of humor. A few continuity issues mar the otherwise excellent artkite strings and washing lines end abruptly, and there is no indication of how Wilbur gets from the ice to the sky. The text struggles with a rhythm that often feels forced and rhymes, such as fear and idea , that don't quite work. Some readers may also wonder what a polar bear and penguins are doing in the same hemisphere. Overall, the appealing illustrations but weak text make this an additional purchase for larger libraries. Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Sacramento Public Library, CA