Lita Judge creates adorable illustrations. Her happy penguin and all his bird friends are just too cute. Even though everyone tells Penguin he cannot fly, he is just determined. He knows he has the soul of an eagle. If only had the body of an eagle, as well. There are lots of humorous moments in Penguin’s attempts to fly and as he begins understand that to be a bird doesn't automatically mean you can fly. Use this book in science class as you begin to look at classifying animals. What exactly makes a bird? It's not the ability to fly, so what does make a bird a bird? Read for Chapter and Verse book club as a possible Caldecott contender. Number 2 on my list of the three that we are considering.5 of 5 stars for story and writing - the story of a penguin who wants to fly - he goes to flight school to learn to fly - and because he believes he can fly, and with the help of his friends from the flight school, he experiences flight - determination and ingenuity make anything possible.5 of 5 stars for illustrations - done in watercolor and pencil, the illustrations are exquisite - I especially loved the spread that captures the underwater world that he discovers when he first tries to fly at flight school.
I liked the one underwater picture, but was kind of ambivalent about the rest of it.
—fuckinmuffin
A penguin wants to fly, and finally does with some help from his friends.
—Forever456
A book about a penguin with the heart of an eagle...
—Thelunas
Amazing illustrations!!!! So great
—klinker_94
