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Be Brave, Little Penguin
Little Penguin really wants to play, but there’s just one problem – he’s afraid of the water. He’s much too scared to join in the fun with his friends. But will Little Penguin be brave enough to overcome his fear?
- GenresChildrensPicture Books
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2012
4 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 4, 2018
Mine and my Lexi’s favorite out of stack of books we brought home from book fair.
January 20, 2018
At first glance this seems a bright, colorful book full of promise and hope and wonder and parental involvement and bullying thwarted. However, if you look closer, this is as shallow as Mommy Penguin dipping her toes in the water.
Let's examine the problems with this book:
1.) The text and the illustrations contradict each other--Pip was "SAD and he was LONELY, But he couldn't show his tears." Um, look across on the facing page, I definitely see a tear! and later on, Mommy says, "Don't worry--I'm right here..." except she isn't right there when Pip jumps in; she's standing way back from the edge. And then the whole water temperature/color thing--is it dark or is it light? Is it warm or is it cold? With global-warming we may never know.
2.) Clueless/Bullying Father Stereotype: Daddy shows up for a heartbeat; says something cruel; Mommy corrects Daddy; and then *poof* the Daddy has disappeared from the narrative where he will inconvenience the story line no more with his lumbering, oafish, clueless ways.
3.) Problems magically solved: Pip jumps into the water after being gently nudged by Mommy (for just a few seconds when he has had this hangup FOR-EV-ER), and then VOILA! everything is alright. Yep. Because real life is just. like. that. boys and girls.
4.) Let's ignore the fact that penguins are natural-born swimmers, and DON'T NEED to learn how to swim. Just ignore that and give them psychological problems and hangups for convenience's sake for a plot. *sigh* *cough*lazy plot*cough* That's all I'm going to say.
Thoroughly irritating book.
Let's examine the problems with this book:
1.) The text and the illustrations contradict each other--Pip was "SAD and he was LONELY, But he couldn't show his tears." Um, look across on the facing page, I definitely see a tear! and later on, Mommy says, "Don't worry--I'm right here..." except she isn't right there when Pip jumps in; she's standing way back from the edge. And then the whole water temperature/color thing--is it dark or is it light? Is it warm or is it cold? With global-warming we may never know.
2.) Clueless/Bullying Father Stereotype: Daddy shows up for a heartbeat; says something cruel; Mommy corrects Daddy; and then *poof* the Daddy has disappeared from the narrative where he will inconvenience the story line no more with his lumbering, oafish, clueless ways.
3.) Problems magically solved: Pip jumps into the water after being gently nudged by Mommy (for just a few seconds when he has had this hangup FOR-EV-ER), and then VOILA! everything is alright. Yep. Because real life is just. like. that. boys and girls.
4.) Let's ignore the fact that penguins are natural-born swimmers, and DON'T NEED to learn how to swim. Just ignore that and give them psychological problems and hangups for convenience's sake for a plot. *sigh* *cough*lazy plot*cough* That's all I'm going to say.
Thoroughly irritating book.
October 15, 2020
The story is about a little penguin that is afraid to do things that the other penguins do such as diving in the ocean, sliding on the ice, etc. The penguin seems to stay in his comfort zone doing the things he is used to doing, even when the other penguins invite him to do what they are doing. The little penguin meets a seal who invites him to play, and so he does. The little penguin finds himself in trouble as he is slipping in the water and falls in. He realizes that he just needs to flap his little wings and kick his little feet and he'd be fine. When the little penguin gets out of the water, he realizes that the experience wasn't so bad, and decides to jump back in. He had conquered his fear! It gave him the courage to do the things the other penguins were doing, and even meets a nice polar bear who tells him it's okay to try new things and that everyone is scared at some point. I feel the significance of this story is to teach kids to get out of their comfort zones and try new things. I've had many experiences where I was afraid to try something, and when I did, I loved it!
March 20, 2018
Didn't like this one. It had potential, but I think it's trying way too hard to be adorable and wholesome. The story and rhyme are forced. Doesn't do it for me.
June 3, 2018
Joyful illustrations! Good book to encourage children to reframe negative thoughts to positive possibilities.
February 28, 2022
A rather cute story the kids enjoyed. Lovely illustrations too.
July 25, 2023
Read with daddy. Moodles likes that the little penguin was brave. He loves stories where the people and animals show how brave they are.
January 14, 2025
It was all right. Held the kids' attention anyway.
September 15, 2014
Be Brave Little Penguin by Rachel Elliot
Author: Rachel Elliot
Illustrated by: Karen Sapp
This is quite an interesting book; the short read is somewhat adventurous, from an emotive context, in which case Little Penguin gets over his fear of water. Little Penguin wanted to play so badly with his friend but his fear for water stood in his way. He later summoned courage and overcame that fear and in the process encouraged Little Seal Cub who had similar fright to overcome his own fear too.
I particularly like it, because it teaches children that they can overcome fear and also help others that have similar issues. The moral of this book can be said to be “I can do it, if I try”. This book will particularly appeal to children between the ages of 18months – 4years old. Parents can read to their 18months child using the picture illustration and the sounds made by the penguins who seems to be having great fun. Independent readers up to age 4years would also find it interesting as its easy read, which is also good for beginners.
The pictures and illustrations used, were large and colourful, it also clearly represented the text and would give any child reading or being read to an opportunity to develop their imagination. All the play activities experienced by the Penguins were represented by images in the book which makes it interesting and good read for group reading in a class. For example, Penguins diving under the blue waves, some splashing in the sparkling ocean, ice helter-skelter etc, were illustrated using pictures in the book
Personally, I would love to read this book to a class, while teaching feelings as the book used a lot of emotive language. The use of emotive language, would allow for children to use their imagination to identify the feeling of the character within the book, in this case Little Penguin, I would also go further to allow the children to talk about anything they were afraid of and how they could overcome it, just as Little Penguin overcame his own fear.
Author: Rachel Elliot
Illustrated by: Karen Sapp
This is quite an interesting book; the short read is somewhat adventurous, from an emotive context, in which case Little Penguin gets over his fear of water. Little Penguin wanted to play so badly with his friend but his fear for water stood in his way. He later summoned courage and overcame that fear and in the process encouraged Little Seal Cub who had similar fright to overcome his own fear too.
I particularly like it, because it teaches children that they can overcome fear and also help others that have similar issues. The moral of this book can be said to be “I can do it, if I try”. This book will particularly appeal to children between the ages of 18months – 4years old. Parents can read to their 18months child using the picture illustration and the sounds made by the penguins who seems to be having great fun. Independent readers up to age 4years would also find it interesting as its easy read, which is also good for beginners.
The pictures and illustrations used, were large and colourful, it also clearly represented the text and would give any child reading or being read to an opportunity to develop their imagination. All the play activities experienced by the Penguins were represented by images in the book which makes it interesting and good read for group reading in a class. For example, Penguins diving under the blue waves, some splashing in the sparkling ocean, ice helter-skelter etc, were illustrated using pictures in the book
Personally, I would love to read this book to a class, while teaching feelings as the book used a lot of emotive language. The use of emotive language, would allow for children to use their imagination to identify the feeling of the character within the book, in this case Little Penguin, I would also go further to allow the children to talk about anything they were afraid of and how they could overcome it, just as Little Penguin overcame his own fear.
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February 25, 2015Reading through the book the pages are bright and colorful and help children understand that overcoming a fear can be hard, but if you face the fear, you can have more fun. This book could be used to help open up the children (ages 4-6) and explain some of there fears. From there the students could possibly talk about different ways to overcome their fears, either together or on their own. The book therefore could be used in a lesson about the importance of helping others and being understanding to others fears. You could also use the illustrations to talk about the ice sheets and the animals that live there.
January 27, 2016
Love it
My daughter loves this book and is an enjoyable read which is insisted on every night. Colourful pictures and clear text when reading in digital format
My daughter loves this book and is an enjoyable read which is insisted on every night. Colourful pictures and clear text when reading in digital format
November 19, 2016
He is scared of the water then when he goes into the water he is not scared anymore
I chose 5
I chose 5
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February 3, 2018Nonfiction/Twintext #5
The book I chose to pair with "Be Brave, Little Penguin" is "Pierre the Penguin: A True Story" by Jean Marzollo. I chose this book because it is a great example of penguins and how they live in their natural state. Since this book is based on a true story it shows students real life examples on how the animals function on a daily basis and the things they encounter. I thought this would be a great book to pair together since they both show the bravery penguins face on a daily basis and how they are able to over come it.
I would suggest this book for grades 1st-3rd. This would show students great real life examples of penguins while also informing them about the different environments and science factors that play a role in penguins lives!
The book I chose to pair with "Be Brave, Little Penguin" is "Pierre the Penguin: A True Story" by Jean Marzollo. I chose this book because it is a great example of penguins and how they live in their natural state. Since this book is based on a true story it shows students real life examples on how the animals function on a daily basis and the things they encounter. I thought this would be a great book to pair together since they both show the bravery penguins face on a daily basis and how they are able to over come it.
I would suggest this book for grades 1st-3rd. This would show students great real life examples of penguins while also informing them about the different environments and science factors that play a role in penguins lives!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews