Caramel reviews The Trouble with Penguins by Rebecca Jordan-Glum

For his penultimate post for 2020, Caramel chose to review a neat picture book about penguins learning about marshmallows (and sharing) called The Trouble with Penguins, written and illustrated by Rebecca Jordan-Glum. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, what do you want to tell us about this book?

Caramel: It is a cute book about penguins. They apparently have some troubles. But I think penguins are perfectly fine.

S: I think the author uses the phrase “the trouble with penguins” a couple times. Can you find those in the book?

C: “You see the trouble with penguins is that they don’t always like to share.” And then there is this one: “Everyone knows that the trouble with penguins is that they aren’t very good at admitting when they are wrong.”

S: Hmm. Those troubles sound very familiar to me. I know some little bunnies who don’t always like to share…

C: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

S: Hmm, and I know some little bunnies who don’t always like to admit when they are wrong.

C: I still don’t know what you’re talking about.

S: Hmm, then let us say that it is quite challenging sometimes to admit when one makes a mistake. Isn’t that true?

C: I don’t know.

S: Well, sometimes I have trouble admitting when I am wrong.

C: I don’t.

S: Well, sometimes it does take a while, but eventually you do realize that you made a mistake and try to figure things out. Which is not a bad thing at all. But in these kinds of ways, these penguins seem like typical little bunnies to me.

C: Yes I guess so. And they love marshmallows! I love them too! Maybe we can have some with hot chocolate tonight?

S: That sounds good to me!

S: Okay, back to the book. What happens to the penguins in the book?

C: One of these little penguins learns how to roast marshmallows over a campfire, and teaches all his friends. But in the Antarctic ice, it is probably not a very good idea to have campfires because there isn’t any wood to use! And they all want their own sticks and their own fires and so on.

S: Yes, so then they get into some troubles, right?

C: Yes. But they eventually figure things out.

S: Yes, that’s right. It is a really sweet story. What three words would you use to describe it Caramel?

C: Warm, and fuzzy, and cute.

S: Those are good descriptors for this book Caramel! Reading the book made me want to have that hot chocolate with you!

C: That’s good because I’ve been ready for that hot chocolate, since yesterday.

S: Okay, maybe after dinner. But first we need to wrap up this review. What do you want to tell our readers Caramel?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny adventures!