I discovered this title on the New Books shelf at my local library and I am so glad I picked it up. The main character of I am Actually a Penguin is an adorable little girl who loves to play pretend. She’s been a princess, a pirate, an evil witch, but her new costume of choice is… a penguin! She wears her outfit everywhere and tries her very best to be a penguin at all times, even if everyone tells her she is not “actually a penguin.” All is going well until it comes time to go to school and give her penguin outfit a much-needed wash. Kasia Matyjaszek’s colorful illustrations are eye catching and Sean Taylor’s humorous text is entertaining for parents and kids alike. I am Actually a Penguin is a fantastic story time title that I highly recommend.
Reading Tip
Imaginative play is so important for building early reading skills. Children love to pretend to be different animals. Encourage your child to explore sounds and movement as they pretend. Visit the zoo and talk about the animals you see. Make animal masks out of paper plates and have an animal parade. Some great animal tunes include “Old Macdonald Had a Farm,” “The Monkey Dance” by The Wiggles, and “We are the Dinosaurs” by The Laurie Berkner Band.
– Kayla
