Review - Penguin and Pumpkin

Penguin and Pumpkin (Penguin)
by Salina Yoon
Date: 2014
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

When Penguin and Bootsy plan a field trip in search of Fall, Penguin's little brother, Pumpkin, wants to come. Pumpkin is heartbroken to find out he's too little to go, and when Penguin tries to say good-bye, his brother is nowhere to be found! At the farm, all the pumpkins Penguin sees remind him of his own special Pumpkin.

So Penguin and Bootsy bring a special surprise home to share a little touch of Autumn with Pumpkin. Prolific author/illustrator Salina Yoon's spare text and bright, energetic illustrations bring to life this endearing story celebrating Autumn and family in many forms!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not sure I understand the appeal of these books. They're super simple, kind of silly, not at all realistic, and the illustrations aren't very interesting.

In this book, a penguin named Penguin takes all his friends to go to a farm (somewhere) and see pumpkins. Little brother Pumpkin wants to come, but he's too small. So the older penguins leave and head off to the farm on an ice floe. They pick out some pumpkins, grab a box full of leaves, and head back to Antarctica (I'm assuming). Then Pumpkin tells Penguin all the fun he's had imagining some adventures while they've been gone. But he still wishes he knew what fall looks like. So Penguin makes it rain leaves.

I guess if you're two, this is fine literature. But I find these books annoyingly basic.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 1/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 1.83 out of 5

Review - Kiki & Jax

Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship
by Marie Kondo & Salina Yoon
illustrated by Salina Yoon
Date: 2019
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

International tidying superstar and New York Times bestselling author Marie Kondo brings her unique method to young readers in this charming story about how tidying up creates space for joy in all parts of your life, co-written and illustrated by beloved children’s book veteran Salina Yoon.

The KonMari Method inspires a charming friendship story that is sure to spark joy!

Kiki and Jax are best friends, but they couldn’t be more different. The one thing they always agree on is how much fun they have together. But when things start to get in the way, can they make space for what has always sparked joy—each other?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I was a bit skeptical about this one, but it's actually really cute! It's like the kids' version of the KonMari method, wrapped up in a little story about friendship.

Kiki the squirrel and Jax the owl are best friends. Kiki's a bit of a hoarder, though, and eventually her tendency to hang on to everything starts to affect her friendship with Jax. He comes over to play ball... but she can't find it. He comes over to ask her if she wants to go swimming... but she can't find her suit in the mess. Jax is annoyed that things are getting in the way of their friendship, so he makes Kiki a gift to remind her of what's important. When Kiki receives the gift, she's thrilled, and goes to Jax's house to thank him. Then they play. When Kiki wishes they could play at her house, Jax offers to help, and they tidy up the squirrel's abode using the KonMari Method.

It's a great introduction to Marie Kondo's techniques for kids. It even gives enough description that adults could probably get something out of it (if they haven't already read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up). There are also illustrated instructions at the back on how to fold a shirt so you can stand it upright in your drawer.

Fans of the KonMari Method will probably want to have this for their kids. But it could probably be a valuable little book for any messy kid who needs a few pointers on how to keep the clutter to a minimum.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - Penguin's Christmas Wish

Penguin's Christmas Wish (Penguin)
by Salina Yoon
Date: 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Geisel Honor-winning author/illustrator Salina Yoon's beloved character Penguin celebrates the season in Penguin's Christmas Wish--a charming picture book that's perfect for the holidays.

Penguin can't wait to celebrate Christmas with his family and friends. But when things don't go exactly as planned, Penguin learns to find holiday magic in the most unexpected places.

Countless readers have already come to love the adorable Penguin, and Salina Yoon continues this series with a timeless story of holiday magic and the importance of family and friends.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Well, that was a waste of a few minutes. This is a picture book for oblivious kids. I was confused myself, until I realized that I was supposed to not notice something pretty glaring. Kids notice things. Don't treat them as if they're stupid.

Penguin and his friends (family?) are preparing for Christmas. Pumpkin wishes they had a real tree, so they pack up all their Christmas paraphernalia and Penguin leads them "away from their frozen home" to some forest where he's apparently on a first-name basis with one of the trees, Pinecone. The penguins decorate Pinecone, put their gifts under it, and make their Christmas wishes. Penguin's wish is to share Christmas with the whole forest. During the night, a blizzard sweeps through the forest, blowing all the ornaments off of Pinecone and scattering the presents. So Penguin has to improvise gifts. But his own Christmas wish has yet to come true. He waits all day, and then notices that the ornaments have blown onto every other tree in the forest, and all the other critters come out to join them. The wish has come true! The end.

The problem I had is that, when we first see Pinecone stripped of all the ornaments, there's another tree on the same spread that's covered in lights and baubles. So I scratched my head as I kept turning the pages. There were obviously ornaments on all the other trees. Why on earth did it take until nightfall for Penguin to notice that the blizzard had merely rearranged the ornaments? (He also didn't notice the other critters popping up until he noticed the ornaments. Either Penguin needs glasses, or he's just really slow.)

The illustrations might've saved this for me, had they been great, but they're not. The characters are drawn so simply (and without eyebrows) that there are few facial expressions to be had. Penguin has the same look on his face throughout... whether he's supposed to be upset that the blizzard has wrecked their Christmas tree or happy that his wish has finally come true.

This was a complete miss for me. By treating the reader as if they're stupid and oblivious, it makes them feel stupid and oblivious... when they're actually one step ahead of the clueless characters.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 1/5
Originality: 1/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.17 out of 5