Review by Booklist Review
An orphaned girl gets adopted. Three animals in the forest set out to eat lunch. A penguin must find his way back to Antarctica. In any other world, this would be three separate stories, but in Baldwin's graphic novel, they are one and the same. When Ted, a bighearted bear; Vachel, a sarcastic and irritable vulture; and Blake, the dim-witted and lovable dog, set out for a picnic in the forest, they never expected to find Dee, the recently orphaned daughter of the forest's park ranger. Without saying a word, she leads her three new friends on a whirlwind rescue mission to deliver Paisley, the lost penguin, back to his family. While the humor is abundant, some jokes fall a little flat as the animals never stray too far from their distinct personalities (e.g., Vachel the vulture really likes food). Despite this, young readers will delight in the cartoonish full-color illustrations and round-the-world, fast-paced adventures while taking comfort in the final lesson you need just love to make a family.--Kuss, Rebecca Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Hilarity ensues when Paisley the penguin, far from her native Antarctica, recruits a sarcastic vulture, a dim-witted dog, and a kindhearted bear to take her home. Along with them is Dee, an orphan girl who inserts herself into the adventure. Dee never says a word but always manages to get her point across. While making their way to the South Pole, the group befriend various indigenous creatures, as they simultaneously fend off a pair of deranged polar bears who have been pursuing Paisley the whole time. Baldwin's crisp, bright art and clever text create a noteworthy tale. The characters have distinct personalities, and whether cheerful, clueless, or annoying, they draw readers into an emotionally well-rounded story with a satisfying conclusion. This full-color, laugh-out-loud work has an abundance of adventure, charm, and notable characters. VERDICT A feel-good offering about friends, family, and love, this book is a winner for middle grade graphic novel fans.-Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
An orphan girl running from authorities and an adventurous penguin running from hungry polar bears simultaneously seek help from an oddball crew consisting of a kindly bear, a dim-witted dog, and a snarky comic-relief vulture. Madcap and humorously anachronistic, this graphic novel starts in a dark place but quickly dives into a screwball travelogue with a message about found and made families. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A fun-filled, zany story with a serious message about belonging. When three woodland friendsTed, a bighearted bear; Blake, an "undomesticated" and kind but dim-bulb dog; and Vachel, a sarcastic vulture who never goes out of his way to offer a kind wordget sidetracked from their picnic and sucked into a journey to return Paisley the penguin to her Antarctic home, it turns into an adventure that will keep readers guessing. Complicating matters, the park ranger has died, leaving his young, brown-skinned daughter, Dee, all aloneuntil she finds and latches onto Ted and his companions. The debate rages throughout their journey: should they keep the mute and adorable human or return her to the orphanage, where little humans without families belong? Or do they? If Paisley has a family among the penguins even though her parents have died, Dee, too, can make a family from this motley group of animals. Those who love travel, adventure, learning about animals in remote parts of the world, and comics will enjoy this laugh-out-loud graphic novel. Baldwin's full-color illustrations appeal to all of the senses and keep the story movingthrough travel by plane, raft, boat, and on foot, ahead of a pair of hungry polar bears all the way. A must-read for all would-be adventurers. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
