Who Hasn’t Wanted a Penguin?

Print picture book One Cool Friend, written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by David Small, is a humorous story of the mischievous antics of Elliot, a young boy who befriends and brings home a penguin.  Over 14 spreads and 40 pages, this 2013 Caldecott Honor book is aimed at children in kindergarten-3rd grade, but adults will be equally, if not more so, amused by Elliot and his penguin friend.

At the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Elliot, a formal young man whose father has just invited him to go the aquarium, where he puts a penguin in his backpack to bring home.  Elliot takes care of the penguin at home, escaping the notice of his father, who is too distracted by reading to notice what his son is doing. At the end of the story, Elliot’s father discovers the penguin his son has brought home, and the reader is surprised to learn something about Elliot’s father.

What I love about this book is the way that the illustrations reveal things to the reader that the text alone does not. For instance, when Elliot asks his father for a penguin at the aquarium, his father hands him a $20 bill.  The text just reads Elliot asking for a penguin.  The illustrations show Elliot’s father, who’s been reading an issue of National Geographic, handing Elliot the money as he’s looking at a nearby sign advertising today’s special on plush penguins for $19.95.  I like how the illustrations reveal the irony of the misunderstanding in this moment that is central to the book’s plot.

The real genius of this story is the way that it builds to the surprise ending. Upon reading it a second time, you discover all the clues that the illustrations give you as to how the story will end. Turtles abound in the illustrations, right down to the box of candy turtles next to Elliot’s father in his study, and the ending makes all of these clues click.

This story is clever. A lot of thought clearly went into the interplay between art and text, with one informing the other to form a witty tale of childhood antics.  Pure fun, a delightful storytime tale of mischief, this book appeals to both children and adults.  Elliot’s sly actions and his distracted father will have both children and their parents chuckling.  Also, who hasn’t wanted to take a penguin home from the aquarium?