Inspired by Marshmallow’s first book for the new season, Caramel decided to start his reviews with Flipping Brilliant: A Penguin’s Guide to a Happy Life, first published in 2008. The book brings together nature photographer Jonathan Chester’s images with accompanying text by Patrick Regan. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.
Sprinkles: So Caramel, I am glad you chose to talk about this book today, even though it may not be completely targeting a young audience.
Caramel: Yes, Marshmallow talked about an advice book, so I thought this would work well to follow it. And also because it is a really short book. Only fifty-nine pages!
S: That is short! And actually the book does not have much text in it.
C: Yep. Basically 39 out of 59 are all just photos of penguins.
S: Did you just count that?
C: No. But I am approximating. A lot of the pages are full of penguin photos and there are some words sprinkled here and there that match them.
S: I see. So there are some cool photos by the photographer, Jonathan Chester, and then the other person, Patrick Regan adds some pithy statement to each photo that makes sense.
C: Yes for example one of my favorites is a photo of four penguins walking in a line. This is on page 57. They look really funny. They look like the Beatles. Remember how they were crossing the street?
S: Yes, here it is:
C: Yes, so the four penguins look just like that! And the words next to the penguins say:
“Be an original. There have been countless imitators, but there is a reason the Beatles will never be forgotten. Find your own road.”
S: That is cool Caramel!
C: Yes I agree!
S: I think there are some notes about each of the photos in the back of the book. Right?
C: Yep. For my four penguins it says: “King penguins, Falkland Islands. King penguins, true to their name, comport themselves in a regal fashion. Their stateliness, beautiful mating ritual, and gregariousness make them a delight to observe.”
S: That is neat! So you get to learn the type of penguin in the picture and also where the photo was actually taken.
C: Yes. And a little fact about the penguins too. And you know I love my facts!
S: I do! But when I first saw you read this book, I thought it was going to be something like Penguins Hate Stuff, which you reviewed a long time ago.
C: Yeah, that was a good book, too. But that was mostly funny. And the images were hand-drawn. Here the images are real, and the words say meaningful stuff. But of course I can laugh at them too. For example, there is one which says “It’s better to be smart than cute. (And best to be both.)” And that is kind of funny!
S: But it is also true. You are both smart and cute. So it applies to you!
C: Hmm, I don’t know how to respond to that without sounding too full of myself or too humble.
S: Okay, you do not have to say anything.
C: Okay, so maybe we can say we are done with the post?
S: Sure. Let us wrap it up then. What would you like to say to our readers?
C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!
BookBunnies 
