James Proimos, author-illustrator of Waddle! Waddle!, takes us into a day in the life of a jaunty little penguin, who only yesterday made a new best friend who happened to be a spectacular dancer. But as bad luck would have it, our little penguin quickly lost his friend and has shed a number of tears.
He sets out on a quest to find his friend, starting out with a waddle-waddle and ending in a belly slide. His first attempt leads him to a singer, not his amazing dancer, and the shrill voice of this new fellow blows off his hat and tie. The next is even worse, a horn blower who trumpets our little penguin upside down with his tongue hanging out. When he thinks he has finally found his dancing friend, he runs smack dab into real danger in the shape of a polite but hungry polar bear.
Luckily, his newfound singer and musician friends come to his aid, and he escapes the bear’s grasp. Will he find the mysterious new best friend with the dancing feet? A clever twist will amuse both reader and little listener.
Proimos illustrated Suzanne Collins’ popular picture book, Year of the Jungle, a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner. Waddle! Waddle! will win over children’s hearts with its colorful, cartoonish illustrations and its simple message about the meaning and value of friendship.
Billie B. Little is the Founding Director of Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, a hands-on museum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
