Bestselling author Pam Muoz Ryan and virtuosic new talent Edwin Fotheringham show off their funny sides as they introduce the mischievous, lovable,...
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May 06, 2011
Kim
rated it: 
Grades K-3
Tony Baloney, a macaroni penguin sandwiched between a bossy older sister and two baby sisters, doesn't mean to get into trouble, but sometimes he just can't help himself. Or... erm... his stuffed animal buddy Dandelion can't help it. When it happens, he tosses his really important stuff in a bag, holes up in his secret hiding place, and stays there till his parents stop by to talk about OUR behavior and OUR apologies. Fortunately, Dandelion understands him, and with a nudg More...
Tony Baloney, a macaroni penguin sandwiched between a bossy older sister and two baby sisters, doesn't mean to get into trouble, but sometimes he just can't help himself. Or... erm... his stuffed animal buddy Dandelion can't help it. When it happens, he tosses his really important stuff in a bag, holes up in his secret hiding place, and stays there till his parents stop by to talk about OUR behavior and OUR apologies. Fortunately, Dandelion understands him, and with a nudg More...
Mar 14, 2011
Emma
rated it: 
I read this for storytime yesterday, and while it's cute, it's only just an okay read. Far and away the best part of the whole book is Dandelion the stuffed ostrich, who helps Tony Baloney with his problems by sitting and taking notes like a psychiatrist, and is clearly the source of any trouble going on. The dynamics between Tony Baloney and his siblings (one older and bossy and twin babies) doesn't ring quite as true. Also, I had to stop and explain the word "exasperated" to the kids
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Jan 27, 2011
Katieb (MundieMoms)
rated it: 
Tony Baloney has bright, fun illustrations that quickly captured my attention and that of my children. Tony himself is a fun character to read about. His story is one about sibling relationships and his feelings with being the middle child. This cute Macaroni Penguin has to deal with an older sister who bosses him around and two twin babies who get into his things.
Tony is a typical little boy who enjoys playing and pretending, and some times his best intentions lead him into trouble. More...
Tony is a typical little boy who enjoys playing and pretending, and some times his best intentions lead him into trouble. More...
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Aug 29, 2011
Monica
rated it:
This is a good book to get a discussion going about emotions and anger with kids. Tony Baloney is a penguin and middle "child." The Botherson Babies Baloney chew on his toys and his big sister bosses him around. Well, sometime his stuffed animal Dandelion just can't take it anymore and loses his temper! Tony Baloney goes to his hideout to calm down: "I am not feeling nicely in my heart. How long does it take for nicely to creep in?" Bright, colorful illustrations.
Mar 15, 2011
Dolly
rated it:
This is a sweet book about a family of macaroni penguins and the relationship between the young children in the family, told from the perspective of the middle child, Tony Baloney. The illustrations are adorable and the story is nicely told, perfect in length to read with children. Elementary school-age children can best appreciate the different challenges and roles that each sibling takes on, and we thought the babies were sooo cute. Fun book to read aloud.
Jan 27, 2011
Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids
rated it:
Tony Baloney has bright, fun illustrations that quickly captured my attention and that of my children. Tony himself is a fun character to read about. His story is one about sibling relationships and his feelings with being the middle child. This cute Macaroni Penguin has to deal with an older sister who bosses him around and two twin babies who get into his things.
Tony is a typical little boy who enjoys playing and pretending, and some times his best intentions lead him into trouble. More...
Tony is a typical little boy who enjoys playing and pretending, and some times his best intentions lead him into trouble. More...
Feb 10, 2011
Natasha
rated it:
Goofy fun with an apt portrayal of sibling dynamics. Captures perfectly the difficulty of making a genuine apology when one is not "feeling nicely in my heart." Children who wonder "how long does it take for nicely to creep in?" when learning how to make amends will appreciate the honest answer "Maybe never, or in a little while. Just wait for it." I hope this little penguin has a few more adventures ahead of him.
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Jul 15, 2011
Katie
rated it: 
Kids who are smack in the middle of their families and anyone who has ever had a bossy older sister will relate to this story and sympathize with Tony's difficulties. His random obsession with parmesan cheese, the bright, bold illustrations against the pages' white backdrops, and lots of high-energy humor make this a fast-paced, silly, and wonderfully strange little picture book. Its silliness is charming and believable, and Tony Baloney inhabits a world of make-believe and play shared by so ma
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Jan 18, 2011
Tricia
rated it:
Based on the bright and vibrant illustrations, I wanted to like this book...but it fell flat. Tony Baloney is a penguin, middle child in his family between the older sister ("Boss of the World") and little twin babies ("Bothersome Babies"). What can he say?--"trouble finds him"! His little stuffed friend Dandelion helps him express his feelings. When I read picture books, I look for storytime choices and I didn't feel that I could pull this one off for storytime
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Oct 15, 2011
Cathy
rated it:
Having spent my life as the bossy big sister, and given birth to three kids, thereby inviting a Tony Baloney dynamic, I appreciated the sibling relationships in Ryan's latest book. The bright, colorful illustrations enhance the engaging text. Middle siblings and bossy big sisters alike will recognize Tony's story and cheer for small victories.
Jan 10, 2011
Snorkle
rated it:
This book was fairly amusing. I enjoyed the bright illustrations and crazy colors that ran rampant through this book. The characters were fairly engaging and some of the text had some funny alliteration going on. I would probably recommend.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011/01...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011/01...
Feb 05, 2011
Judy
rated it: 
I wanted to like this book. I loved the title and the cover art. I could not wait to be a "ham" reading a title like Tony Baloney with a NJ or NY accent, but it fell flat for me. I did not like the story or the illustrations. Tony is a middle child who is stuck being bossed around by big sister or forced to play with younger sisters.
Mar 02, 2011
Jeanette
rated it:
Very cute story with bright and colorful illustrations.
Tony Baloney is a middle child, er, penguin and always seems to be stuck either being bossed by his big sister or trying to avoid the bothersome babies.
Having three kids I found this fun to read. My oldest is forever bossing the younger two and my poor middle daughter is always either being bossed by big brother or worrying that her baby brother will get/ruin her toys.
Tony Baloney is a middle child, er, penguin and always seems to be stuck either being bossed by his big sister or trying to avoid the bothersome babies.
Having three kids I found this fun to read. My oldest is forever bossing the younger two and my poor middle daughter is always either being bossed by big brother or worrying that her baby brother will get/ruin her toys.
Feb 18, 2012
Tara
rated it:
This book is very cute and I enjoyed reading it. Although I found it to be a little chopy I would read it to a future class room. The whole concept is very child like and whimsical, I think that younger students would enjoy this book tremendously.
Apr 07, 2011
Dawn
rated it:
A cute picture book about being the middle child. Tony Baloney acts out and when he gets in trouble discusses the situation with his trusty stuffed animal. Brought to you by Pam Munoz Ryan, popular author of Becoming Naomi Leon and Riding Freedom.
Mar 29, 2011
Nichole
rated it:
I thought this was such a cute book. If any of your students have an older sister they will be able to relate to this cute story about siblings. It reminded me of me and my brother when we were younger. Good to use for young elementary students.
Feb 08, 2011
Becky
rated it:
Love this author's chapter books and this illustrator's zany bright color palette, but this book is weird in tone and execution. Can't see it working in a storytime. It does have a great picture of the inside of a blanket fort, though.
Feb 17, 2012
S.j.reads
rated it:
Woof Woof
I liked this story. It is very representative of the life of children with older and younger siblings. The pictures are adorable. The girls really liked this book too, so thumbs up from them!
I liked this story. It is very representative of the life of children with older and younger siblings. The pictures are adorable. The girls really liked this book too, so thumbs up from them!
May 14, 2011
Polly
rated it:
Meh. It's another life-lesson-for-kiddies disguised as a story. Not that stories can't be very good at that, but somehow the good ones exist outside the lesson, and this one doesn't.
Jan 25, 2011
Stefani
rated it:
I wanted to like this book about a middle child who has to deal with being the younger and older brother. But the story was just frenetic and not as fun as the illustrations.
Dec 26, 2010
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
rated it:
Cute story - and another book that looks at sibling relationships and emotions. A good story for middle children. More of a 3.5 for me but there aren't half stars so I bumped it up.
Oct 28, 2011
Becky
rated it:
My sister Mandy must read this book - all about being stuck in the middle. A hearwarming, sibling rivalry story with a bit of humor mixed in.
Apr 10, 2011
Donalyn
rated it:
Tony Baloney endures bossy and annoying siblings and learns the importance of tolerance and apologies. Vibrant illustrations and a cute story.
Feb 12, 2011
Elisabeth
rated it:
Great for those ready to graduate from the "No David" books. Deals with the overdone theme of sibling relationships in a fairly fresh way.
Feb 02, 2011
Caren
rated it:
Liked the bright art. Teachers or parents could use it to teach lessons about being bossy. Didn't like it too much though.
Jan 11, 2012
Kelly
rated it:
Kind of confusing. Deals with sibling issues and playtime. Has a little bit of alliteration and some rhyming.
Feb 18, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
Fun family story with endearing characters, good middle child book to pair with Crow's Middle Child Blues.
Jan 27, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Fun wordplay and colorful illustrations in this story about sibling rivalry and bad behavior.
May 18, 2011
Beth
rated it:
Tony loves lots of stuff, but he is also adored by trouble. The artwork is very colorful.
Feb 14, 2011
Kim
rated it:
A good book, but specifically out there for a middle child and sibling dynamics.
