Kiddie's Corner: The Old Man and The Penguin, AAAligator! & Snow Song

The Old Man and the Penguin by Julie Abery (Illustrations by Pierre Pratt)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  6th October 2020

Description:
Told in rhyming verse, this is the touching true story of an oil-soaked penguin, the man who rescues him and an unlikely friendship.

 My Thoughts: 

This book tells the true story of an old man and the penguin he rescued from the beach covered in oil and how, after being released, the penguin returns to visit him every single year.
The story is a heartwarming tale of friendship and empathy that rolls off the tongue when being read aloud. It would be appealing to children of all ages (my penguin obsessed nine-year-old enjoyed it) but it is aimed at a younger audience. The illustrations are sweet and hazy like a dream and the book conveys a non-preachy environmental message which I wholeheartedly endorse.
Highly recommend!


AAAlligator! by Judith Henderson

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  6th October 2020

Description:

When a hungry alligator moves to their town, the residents want him out . . . until they get to know him (and learn what he's actually hungry for!).

My Thoughts: 

This story was a big hit in our house! The adults - aka me - loved it and when the little dude (who is nine) saw me reading it he wanted to read it, and he loved it too!
The story is that of a little boy and an alligator. It's a tale of friendship, of overcoming preconceived notions/prejudices and coming together as a community.
It's clever,  fun and completely engaging. The illustrations are wonderful and the themes are painfully relevant to what's going on in the world today. I highly recommend it! Kids of all ages would be able to find something to love about this story but it's probably targeted at those who are 6/7 or younger.

Snow Song by A. K. Riley  (Illustrated by Dawn Lo)

Rating: ⭐⭐

Release Date:  6th October 2020

Description:
An enchanting story told in rhythmic free verse of a young girl exploring the world on a wintry, snow-filled day.

My Thoughts: 

This is an incredibly basic story that captures the "feeling" of snow and the magic and childlike wonder that comes with it. The illustrations are pretty and whimsical. However, there's nothing to the book. No substance. It would be an okay bedtime story for very young children (two to four-year-old age range) but older children will gain little from it.

*All books were review copies received via NetGalley *