Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"That prince among penguins returns," noted PW. "Here Tacky gets the royal treatment after he innocently tries on the emperor penguin's clothes and the emperor penguin gets a welcome break from pomp and ceremony." Ages 4-8. (Aug) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
(Preschool, Primary) Tacky the penguin has never had a presidential demeanor, unless your definition of presidential runs along the lines of Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford impersonation in the old Saturday Night Live skits. Unlike his poised penguin companions, he's always been a bumbler, the kind who couldn't waddle up to give a speech without falling beak-first into the podium. But his refreshing ability to stand apart from the tuxedo-clad crowd is the point, after all, of Lester and Munsinger's first three books about his adventures, and this fourth enjoyably loopy installment is no exception. When it is announced that the emperor will soon visit their berg, the aptly named Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect begin preparing for the event with their usual Martha Stewart-like gusto and precision. Tacky, on the other hand, can't accomplish his appointed task (blowing up balloons) without mishap. His characteristic sweet obliviousness propels a comical chain of events in which he winds up unknowingly impersonating the emperor in front of his friends, who bow before this surprisingly laid-back ruler and ply him with fish-flavored treats. As always, Munsinger's ink and watercolor renditions of the birds exude personality, while Lester's story packs the double whammy of high entertainment value and an easily digestible lesson. For when the emperor finally does show up (naked, of course, since Tacky is wearing his robes), he finds he likes Tacky's less formal, more honest leadership style. So it looks like the end to politics-as-usual-at least in the Antarctic. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Tacky, the delightful penguin who marches (or is it waddles?) to a different drummer is back in another funny and charming talethis time involving a royal visit from the emperor. When Tacky and his five iceberg-mates learn that the emperor is coming to visit, they enter into frenzied preparations. A feast of fish-flavored food is prepared, entertainment is rehearsed, and Tacky is put in charge of the balloons. But when he blows up a really big balloon, he takes an unplanned ride and ends up on a neighboring iceberg, which, unbeknownst to Tacky, is the emperors home. Seeing a set of very fancy clothes lying unattended and unclaimed on the ice, he puts them on and waddles back to his own iceberg. To his amazement, his five friends make a huge fuss over him, plying him with food and making sure hes amused and happy. Although Tacky doesnt realize it, his friends have mistaken him for the emperor. When the real emperor arrives, the five others are mortified that there is nothing left with which to impress him, and are exasperated with Tacky. The emperor, who turns out to be sick to death of the stuffy and formal visits most of his subjects make him sit through, has a great time with Tacky and his improvisations. Instead of the fish-flavored food that the emperor is usually offered, they have snowball cones; instead of a boring dance recital, Tacky sings his favorite silly song; and they all (even his royal highness) tell penguin jokes. The watercolor illustrations are adorable and full of humornote especially the fish-flavored ice cream, the emperors twinkle-toed shoes, and the double-page spread on which the penguins learn about the mistake thats been made. Children will think this book is a riot and wont even realize that a message is being delivereda charming one about the joys of non-conformity. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
