I am Actually a Penguin

How often does the vivid imagination of a small child startle an adult, not least because of the child’s total belief in the moment of its creation? This particular child claims she can be ‘a completely pretty princess, a very incredible pirate, or a totally terrible witch.’ So when a mystery parcel arrives for her from an uncle in Patagonia, she IS a penguin, with zipped up front, wings aspread, head aloft, dancing on bright yellow flipper feet. Living with a small penguin becomes uncomfortable for the rest of the family, once when the house becomes swathed in unrolled toilet paper, (SNOW!) and especially when havoc is caused at a family wedding. An exasperated Dad declares she is NOT ACTUALLY A PENGUIN, that the suit just has to come off. Resignation eventually sets in as the small child waddles upstairs, only to re-appear gleefully, as an alligator, complete with water wings! The illustrations brilliantly define the emotions of the long-suffering parents, also of big brother who vacillates between taunting his penguin sister and encouraging her in her beliefs. The colour palette is bright, the characters defined in pen, with lots of details to add to the merriment of the book. Anyone who has ever had (or been) a penguin, a pirate, a Robin Hood… or even an alligator… in the household will appreciate this book. Lots of fun.