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Little Pip
Don't Be Afraid, Little Pip
It's the day all baby penguins are going to learn to swim, but Little Pip is afraid....
Nothing scares Little Pip more than the thought of swimming in the deep dark ocean -- she would much rather learn to fly just like other birds do. But soon it comes time for all the young penguins to learn how to swim, and while Little Pip might not be able to fly the way she wants to, she discovers she can soar in ways she never thought possible.
Following the success of Where Is Home, Little Pip? comes this reassuring tale about the lovable Little Pip that will leave readers cheering -- and perhaps a little less scared to try something new. The bestselling author and illustrator team of Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman has created a wonderful story about all the exciting adven-tures that await us once we conquer our fears.
Nothing scares Little Pip more than the thought of swimming in the deep dark ocean -- she would much rather learn to fly just like other birds do. But soon it comes time for all the young penguins to learn how to swim, and while Little Pip might not be able to fly the way she wants to, she discovers she can soar in ways she never thought possible.
Following the success of Where Is Home, Little Pip? comes this reassuring tale about the lovable Little Pip that will leave readers cheering -- and perhaps a little less scared to try something new. The bestselling author and illustrator team of Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman has created a wonderful story about all the exciting adven-tures that await us once we conquer our fears.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Karma Wilson
105 books521 followersKarma Wilson grew up an only child of a single mother in the wilds of North Idaho. Way back then (just past the stone age and somewhat before the era of computers) there was no cable TV and if there had been Karma could not have recieved it. TV reception was limited to 3 channels, of which one came in with some clarity. Karma did the only sensible thing a lonely little girl could do…she read or played outdoors.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 2, 2020
The illustrations in this book, rendered in acrylics, are the highlight of this book about a little penguin who is afraid to learn to swim.
Determined to fly instead, she learns about different birds in Antarctica and tries to copy them, without success. Finding a friend who gives her support and encouragement to discover the underwater world, Pip is able to overcome her fear.
Written and illustrated by the same team who brought us Bear Snores On and the other books in this series, the story has much of the same charm, but for an older audience.
The narrative does not rhyme or have the same rhythm as our beloved books featuring Bear, but the story is informative and engaging.
Determined to fly instead, she learns about different birds in Antarctica and tries to copy them, without success. Finding a friend who gives her support and encouragement to discover the underwater world, Pip is able to overcome her fear.
Written and illustrated by the same team who brought us Bear Snores On and the other books in this series, the story has much of the same charm, but for an older audience.
The narrative does not rhyme or have the same rhythm as our beloved books featuring Bear, but the story is informative and engaging.
March 27, 2018
It is time for Little Pip to learn how to swim. But Pip is wary of the water and what might be down there. She thinks she'd much rather learn how to fly, so she sneaks away from swim lessons and tries to get flying lessons from some other birds.
Silly little pip. I like the way Wilson inserts the rhyming quatrains for each bird to explain how the fly or swim. And I like that when Pip does eventually get in the water she discovers that being a penguin and swimming are even more magical than she thought flying would be. Compare and contrast this with Flight School by Judge about another penguin who wants to fly. This is a good read for kids to learn to be satisfied with the gifts and abilities they have been given instead of being jealous of someone else's.
Silly little pip. I like the way Wilson inserts the rhyming quatrains for each bird to explain how the fly or swim. And I like that when Pip does eventually get in the water she discovers that being a penguin and swimming are even more magical than she thought flying would be. Compare and contrast this with Flight School by Judge about another penguin who wants to fly. This is a good read for kids to learn to be satisfied with the gifts and abilities they have been given instead of being jealous of someone else's.
September 2, 2021
I believe that this is a good book for children to read. It was an adorable story and had cute, detailed illustrations. It teaches readers that not all birds can fly and that everyone is different. However, I believe that the children could accidentally twist the message of this book. The moral of the story is that you should never give up and always try new things, but can also be read as “you need to be what people tell you to be” too. Pip ends up conforming to the societal norms of her “penguinness” rather than being the one who stands out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
This book is pure delight from start to finish! Pip is a determined penguin who is afraid of the ocean. Her friend Merry is very exciting about swimming and encourages Pip but she sees birds whirling in the sky and decides to give flying a try. When the petrel's advice doesn't work, Pip visits the albatross who suggests she jump off a ledge - but this backfires when Pip ends up in the ocean. Luckily Merry saves her and convinces her to try swimming. As Pip explores the ocean with Merry, she realizes that darting through the waves is like flying! The illustrations are beautiful.
May 21, 2019
I loved this adorable little story. It made for a cute read aloud. Who doesn't enjoy mixing a little song into a story? Little Pip is determined to fly... she is a bird after all. But try as hard as she might it's just not possible. Through trials and tribulation, she learns to love herself as she is and encompasses the wonderful traits of penguins.
January 3, 2019
The nice thing about the book is Pip learns to fly, but not in a traditional way. She learns how to fly by being a penguin (who do not fly in the sky). The illustrations are delightfully colorful and detailed.
April 26, 2021
Little Pip is a penguin who wants to fly, not swim. She seeks advice on flying from various birds before realizing she can and should swim. Pip's friend is named Merry, and it made me wonder if it was a nod to Tolkien.
November 25, 2017
REALLY LONG but super cute art
March 27, 2018
Little Pip meets some Polar birds and hopes to fly like they do. When she falls in the water, she discovers that when you are meant to swim, it feels a whole lot like flying!
May 14, 2018
Pip and Merry!!!!
December 27, 2018
A preschool and up book about a little penguin who doesn't want to learn to swim. Can he find where he fits in? Lengthy but cute.
October 8, 2021
A cute story about a penguin discovering that being different is a good thing. The illustrations are also very nice.
June 30, 2022
I love books that teach us that we can get over our fears. And the things we once feared may turn out not to be scary at all.
December 15, 2022
Shows that even though parents and peers might know whats best, kiddos sometimes just need to trial and error to figure that out on their own.
January 31, 2024
"I really like the book. Pip is so silly. At first he is afraid of the water but now he isn't." Review by 5yo.
December 9, 2016
My five-year-old enjoys these "Little Pip" books. Cute story and illustrations.
June 16, 2010
Wilson, Karma. Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip. Margret K. McElderry Books, 2009. Print
Genre: Children’s Picture Books
Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip, by Karma Wilson is about a penguin and his adventure in learning how to swim, despite his fear. He is determined to fly instead of swimming because of his sudden interest in how other animals fly. Through his journey, he encounters other animals that he requests help from. During one flying lesson, he falls in the water and begins to swim with the help of his penguin friend. The illustration are done by Jane Chapman, they are vivid with colorful details expressing the realness of the characters. This aides in the real appearances of the characters that are portrayed and help assist the reader in opening their minds, to the reality that exists. The illustrations help present the reader with an account of what is occurring in each page. This book is great for elementary school children because it assists them in seeing that all things are possible, with the assistance from others. With the encouragement and assistance children can obtain their goals and complete them to the best of their ability. This story encourages children to exceed their expectation and reach above and beyond to completion.
Genre: Children’s Picture Books
Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip, by Karma Wilson is about a penguin and his adventure in learning how to swim, despite his fear. He is determined to fly instead of swimming because of his sudden interest in how other animals fly. Through his journey, he encounters other animals that he requests help from. During one flying lesson, he falls in the water and begins to swim with the help of his penguin friend. The illustration are done by Jane Chapman, they are vivid with colorful details expressing the realness of the characters. This aides in the real appearances of the characters that are portrayed and help assist the reader in opening their minds, to the reality that exists. The illustrations help present the reader with an account of what is occurring in each page. This book is great for elementary school children because it assists them in seeing that all things are possible, with the assistance from others. With the encouragement and assistance children can obtain their goals and complete them to the best of their ability. This story encourages children to exceed their expectation and reach above and beyond to completion.
August 26, 2018
Don't Be Afraid, Little Pip / written by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Jane Chapman -- New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, c2009. (36 pages)
SUMMARY: Little Pip, the penguin, is growing up and it is time to learn to swim along with the other young penguins. However, she is afraid of what lies under the deep dark ocean. She decides since she is a bird with wings and feathers she should be able to fly in the sky like other birds. She seeks out advice from other birds on her island and tries to do each without success. Her last attempt accidentally lands her in the ocean where she sinks until her friend pushes her back to the top. Then she really finds out what penguins are good at -- swimming (flying) under that water.
REVIEW: A nicely illustrated story about growing up. Afraid of learning to swim, Little Pip seeks out the advice of other birds on how she can learn to fly. The advice always comes in a little song stanza, but she fails each time because penguins were not meant to fly. In a world full of black and white penguins, I love that Little Pip is just slightly blue-purple in coloring and a little fluffier than the others around her.
MATCH WITH : LET'S GO SWIMMING WITH MR. SILLY PANTS / by M.K. Brown
SUMMARY: Little Pip, the penguin, is growing up and it is time to learn to swim along with the other young penguins. However, she is afraid of what lies under the deep dark ocean. She decides since she is a bird with wings and feathers she should be able to fly in the sky like other birds. She seeks out advice from other birds on her island and tries to do each without success. Her last attempt accidentally lands her in the ocean where she sinks until her friend pushes her back to the top. Then she really finds out what penguins are good at -- swimming (flying) under that water.
REVIEW: A nicely illustrated story about growing up. Afraid of learning to swim, Little Pip seeks out the advice of other birds on how she can learn to fly. The advice always comes in a little song stanza, but she fails each time because penguins were not meant to fly. In a world full of black and white penguins, I love that Little Pip is just slightly blue-purple in coloring and a little fluffier than the others around her.
MATCH WITH : LET'S GO SWIMMING WITH MR. SILLY PANTS / by M.K. Brown
October 23, 2011
It's a big day in Little Pip the penguin's life. She is going to learn to swim! But Pip is afraid of swimming and wants to learn to fly like other birds. When Mr. Tucks the swim teacher gathers the young penguins together, Pip meets Merry, another little penguin who is so excited about learning to swim. Then Pip wanders away where she meets a snow petrel and a giant albatross. Both tell her that penguins don't fly, but when she persists, both tell her what she should do in order to fly. Neither works, and when Pip falls into the water, it is Merry who helps her to realize that swimming really is the best way to travel for a penguin. Cute text, and adorable illustrations.
March 24, 2015
This would be a great book to link to geography because of the location penguins live in and science for information about penguins. This book is about a penguin named Pip who is getting ready for swimming lessons, but she does not want to learn to swim. Pip feels that she is a bird and should learn how to fly, not swim. Pip goes around to different birds and asks them how to fly and they all tell her how after they tell her that penguins swim, not fly. After a flying attempt, she falls into the water ad her friend saves her and she begins to swim, and decides that is what she does best. This would also be a good read aloud.
January 29, 2014
There are a couple of reasons I think my son likes this story. First, it involves penguins, which he loves. Second, the main character is fearful - a trait shared by my son. Finally, it has song lyrics in it and we sing them to our own tunes.
It's a cute story. I could see some parental resistance to the reality of the book - everyone has limitations. Penguins cannot fly. The author does a nice job working with perspective and attitude in this story. When Pip finally gets in the water, she realizes that she is made to swim.
It's a cute story. I could see some parental resistance to the reality of the book - everyone has limitations. Penguins cannot fly. The author does a nice job working with perspective and attitude in this story. When Pip finally gets in the water, she realizes that she is made to swim.
January 17, 2011
Nothing scares Little Pip more than the thought of swimming in the deep dark ocean -- she would much rather learn to fly just like other birds do. But soon it comes time for all the young penguins to learn how to swim, and while Little Pip might not be able to fly the way she wants to, she discovers she can soar in ways she never thought possible.
February 3, 2011
Topic: Verbs
Theme: To be brave
This book begins with the use of the ellipses. In addition, it has many verbs some examples are darting, dashing, splishing, swam etc. This book introduces the difference between a bird and a penguin. As little Pip learns that he is a penguin and can swim. Although he did try to fly with an Snow Petrel and a albatross.
Theme: To be brave
This book begins with the use of the ellipses. In addition, it has many verbs some examples are darting, dashing, splishing, swam etc. This book introduces the difference between a bird and a penguin. As little Pip learns that he is a penguin and can swim. Although he did try to fly with an Snow Petrel and a albatross.
January 19, 2012
A young penguin doesn't want to swim but wants to fly instead. She asks a Snow Petrel to help her. The bigger bird agrees to try and help, but her advice doesn't help. Pip then approachess a Giant Albatross. His advice lands Pip in the water of the ocean and she finds that she can swim a lot better than she can fly!
January 25, 2012
I get tees books for my daughter whose nickname is Pipi. She love penguins so these stories are perfect for her. In this story, Pip wants to learn to fly instead of swim. Pip (like my daughter) is stubborn and refuses to give in to the fact that penguins don't fly. This is one of the few books that my daughter wants to read more than once.
April 10, 2013
Little Pip learns to swim. He starts out wanting to fly and even goes so far as to visit other species of bird to get advice. In the end, he falls into the water and kind of is forced into learning to swim and learning to appreciate his tremendous ability as a swimmer. Good story, especially if you read the first Little Pip book and are continuing the series.
January 6, 2014
This book was nicely illustrated. It was a wonderfull story about overcoming fear to discover something wonderful. Little Pip is afraid to swim, and would rather fly. She doesn't realize how truly special her ability to swim is, until she accidentally falls into the water. Her new friend Merry helps her see how much fun being a penguin can be!
June 29, 2011
Though it's a little on the lengthy side for a storytime book, this is definitely a cute penguin book. I like that it sets out that penguins can't fly, but they fly underwater. I think this would be great after a zoo trip when a kid can see just how graceful penguins are under water.
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July 29, 2011I really did not like this--the illustrations of the penguins were kind of anthropomorphic, the text was worse, and while I applaud the inclusion of lesser known birds from the SOuth Pole, it was just kind of boring to read on top of that.
December 10, 2014
What an absolutely gorgeous book! Usually I start my reviews with the text, and then move on to the illustrations, but what an absolutely gorgeous book!
The text is sweet, without being twee, and it is a very good story about being true to one's nature.
The text is sweet, without being twee, and it is a very good story about being true to one's nature.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews