Review - Penguin and the Cupcake

Penguin and the Cupcake
by Ashley Spires
Date: 2008
Publisher: Simply Read Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: hardcover
Source: library

Most penguins are happy with their all-fish diet, but not Penguin. He’s craving something just a little bit different: something soft, something sweet, something covered in luscious pink icing. There are no cupcakes in Antarctica, but Penguin’s heard that the Northern Hemisphere is a veritable paradise of cupcakes. So, he heads north. On his long journey, Penguin encounters some other cold-weather natives. Polar Bear and Walrus might not know much about cupcakes, but they have a thing or two to say about Penguin’s storytelling skills! Created with vibrant collage art, this delightfully tongue-in-cheek picture book flows like a graphic novel.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I've read a few of Ashley Spires's books now. It's fun to see how her style has evolved over the years.

This book is one of her earlier ones, and the illustrations weren't really what I expected. They're cute, though. The story is about Penguin, who's tired of fish and longs for cupcakes. So he packs his bag and flaps his wings and takes off for the Northern Hemisphere... only to have Walrus and Polar Bear point out that penguins can't fly. So Penguin has to take a commercial flight instead. But when he gets to his destination, he finds more snow and a dearth of cupcakes. What will he do?

The story is cute enough, and the ending is sweet (pun intended). The layout is interesting, too; it's not quite a straight storybook narrative, which adds a bit of interest.

Recommended to fans of penguins and/or Ashley Spires's other cute books.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5