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Puffin and Penguin
For fans of Owly and Unicorn and Yeti, a delightfully funny graphic novel from bestselling creators Helaine Becker and Kevin Sylvester.
On his first day at his new school, Puffin is thrilled when Penguin is assigned to be his buddy – Penguin’s the coolest kid in the school! But Puffin quickly learns that the coolest kid is also the busiest kid, especially with Penguin starring as King Midas in the school play. Puffin realizes he’s on his own when it comes to making friends – and what better way than joining the stage crew? When a blackout threatens the play’s opening night, it’s up to Puffin to save the day!
This early graphic novel from bestselling and award-winning creators Helaine Becker and Kevin Sylvester is sure to win the hearts of emerging readers with its lighthearted humor, schoolyard drama and endearing lead characters.
On his first day at his new school, Puffin is thrilled when Penguin is assigned to be his buddy – Penguin’s the coolest kid in the school! But Puffin quickly learns that the coolest kid is also the busiest kid, especially with Penguin starring as King Midas in the school play. Puffin realizes he’s on his own when it comes to making friends – and what better way than joining the stage crew? When a blackout threatens the play’s opening night, it’s up to Puffin to save the day!
This early graphic novel from bestselling and award-winning creators Helaine Becker and Kevin Sylvester is sure to win the hearts of emerging readers with its lighthearted humor, schoolyard drama and endearing lead characters.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2024
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Helaine Becker
97 books78 followersHelaine Becker has written over 70 books, including the #1 National bestseller, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree,and its sequel, Dashing through the Snow, Sloth at the Zoom, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, the Looney Bay All-Stars chapter book series, non-fiction including Counting on Katherine, Worms for Breakfast and Zoobots (all Junior Library Guild Selections), Monster Science, You Can Read, Lines Bars and Circles, and Boredom Blasters, plus many picture books and young adult novels. She also writes for children’s magazines and for children's television. Her show Dr. Greenie's Mad Lab was a finalist at MIP.com Junior in Cannes.
She has won the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing for Children twice,once for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and once for The Insecto-Files, and the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She has also won three Silver Birch awards and a Red Cedar award.
Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York, university in North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!!!!) and now lives in Toronto with her husband and dog, Ella. She has two really handsome sons.
She has won the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing for Children twice,once for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and once for The Insecto-Files, and the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She has also won three Silver Birch awards and a Red Cedar award.
Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York, university in North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!!!!) and now lives in Toronto with her husband and dog, Ella. She has two really handsome sons.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 17, 2024
In a Nutshell: A children’s graphic novel about two classmates who learn how to work together. Cute for the target age group. Nice life lessons as well. Learnt some interesting facts too along the way.
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Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🐧 Two of the cutest birds in one graphic novel! Loved how the book played on the similarity in appearance between puffins and penguins.
🐧 The titular duo – opposite in nature and unlikely protagonists. Loved their personalities. I also appreciate how the book shows both of them to be right and wrong at different times instead of a biased viewpoint towards the new entrant in school.
🐧 The breaking of stereotypes – The cool kid isn’t mean. The new kid isn’t nervous. The book forces us to think different.
🐧 All the birdy wordplay! Whether chapter titles or textual content, there are many avian puns that will be a treat for kids to discover, as long as they know their birds well. Mine didn’t know that the loon is an actual bird. They know it now!
🐧 Some fun birdy facts and trivia, presented not as a separate section but as a part of the plot. A great way of incorporating learning into stories.
🐧 Fabulous illustrations, where even the background of the panels have plenty going on. For graphics-loving kids, this will be a treat.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🥚 Couldn’t figure out why the bird parents wear clothes but the teacher and her students in school don’t! 😂
Overall, this was a fun read that will be well suited to kids between 5-8 years of age. The story is simplistic but perfect for kids aged 6-12. The illustrations add to the reading experience, and the message and the avian trivia are the icing on the cake. I read this with my girls (who are both older than the target age). They found this book cute and rated it 4.5 and 4.25 stars respectively.
Recommended to littlies who love graphic novels and birds and light-hearted stories with subtle morals.
4.25 stars. (My rating is 4, but the kids did like it better and it IS a children’s book, so…!)
My thanks to Kids Can Press for providing the DRC of “Puffin and Penguin” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
After moving with his family to ‘New Stork City’, Puffin is excited to be in a fancy new school in ‘Brookloon’. However, he soon realises that the buddy assigned to him, Penguin, is the coolest and busiest kid in school, always in demand and loved by everyone. Feeling ignored, Puffin hatches his own plan to make friends and joins the stage crew of the drama club. But even the best of plans comes with glitches, and Puffin learns that enthusiasm doesn’t lead to automatic success.
Bookish Yays:
🐧 Two of the cutest birds in one graphic novel! Loved how the book played on the similarity in appearance between puffins and penguins.
🐧 The titular duo – opposite in nature and unlikely protagonists. Loved their personalities. I also appreciate how the book shows both of them to be right and wrong at different times instead of a biased viewpoint towards the new entrant in school.
🐧 The breaking of stereotypes – The cool kid isn’t mean. The new kid isn’t nervous. The book forces us to think different.
🐧 All the birdy wordplay! Whether chapter titles or textual content, there are many avian puns that will be a treat for kids to discover, as long as they know their birds well. Mine didn’t know that the loon is an actual bird. They know it now!
🐧 Some fun birdy facts and trivia, presented not as a separate section but as a part of the plot. A great way of incorporating learning into stories.
🐧 Fabulous illustrations, where even the background of the panels have plenty going on. For graphics-loving kids, this will be a treat.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🥚 Couldn’t figure out why the bird parents wear clothes but the teacher and her students in school don’t! 😂
Overall, this was a fun read that will be well suited to kids between 5-8 years of age. The story is simplistic but perfect for kids aged 6-12. The illustrations add to the reading experience, and the message and the avian trivia are the icing on the cake. I read this with my girls (who are both older than the target age). They found this book cute and rated it 4.5 and 4.25 stars respectively.
Recommended to littlies who love graphic novels and birds and light-hearted stories with subtle morals.
4.25 stars. (My rating is 4, but the kids did like it better and it IS a children’s book, so…!)
My thanks to Kids Can Press for providing the DRC of “Puffin and Penguin” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 30, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for this advanced reader copy. All views and opinions are my own.
Cute little book about making new friends and learning to assimilate to a new place. This book isn't exactly what I expected. It's not a childrens' book as much as a graphic novel style with panels. Very cute! Good message. And I was today years old when I learned puffin beaks glow in the dark.
I'd rate this a G.
Original review posted 7/30/24.
Cute little book about making new friends and learning to assimilate to a new place. This book isn't exactly what I expected. It's not a childrens' book as much as a graphic novel style with panels. Very cute! Good message. And I was today years old when I learned puffin beaks glow in the dark.
I'd rate this a G.
Original review posted 7/30/24.
August 24, 2024
This was an adorable adventure of a puffin's first day at a new school - he's ready for a chill school year. Things start out a little icy when he's assigned Penguin as a guide. Penguin isn't really trying to freeze Puffin out, he's just super busy doing all the things a popular penguin does. When there's a hiccup with the lights at a play, Puffin saves the day with his unique abilities.
What I loved most:
I learned a new fact about puffins
The ending is adorable
What I loved most:
I learned a new fact about puffins
The ending is adorable
February 1, 2025
Puffin is nervous about his family moving. Sure, it's a new adventure, and his parents are excited about it, but he's leaving everything he knows behind, As time passes, and with some encouragement from his folks, Puffin is excited for his first day at a new school. It just doesn't turn out quite how he's anticipated.
Puffin and Penguin is an adorable graphic novel about friendship, never giving up, and being yourself. I loved how Puffin's parents were encouraging, supportive, and offered help when they could. In turn, Puffin knew he could go to them with questions or concerns. Frustrations and misunderstandings were sorted out, and friendships were created.
Puffin and Penguin is the kind of book my kids would enjoy reading, which is one reason why I requested it. I found it cute, humorous, and enjoyable; I know my kids would, too. It was a delightful read, and I'll definitely be looking for future work by Becker and Sylvester.
This is an ARC review. All opinions are mine, and my opinion is this is adorable.
Puffin and Penguin is an adorable graphic novel about friendship, never giving up, and being yourself. I loved how Puffin's parents were encouraging, supportive, and offered help when they could. In turn, Puffin knew he could go to them with questions or concerns. Frustrations and misunderstandings were sorted out, and friendships were created.
Puffin and Penguin is the kind of book my kids would enjoy reading, which is one reason why I requested it. I found it cute, humorous, and enjoyable; I know my kids would, too. It was a delightful read, and I'll definitely be looking for future work by Becker and Sylvester.
This is an ARC review. All opinions are mine, and my opinion is this is adorable.
September 20, 2024
I learned something new about puffins in this fun buddy graphic novel.
When Puffin relocated from Iceland to Brookloon in New Stork City with his parents, he has to go to a new school. On his first day at the United Avian Nations School, Penguin is assigned as his buddy. Penguin's helpful nature has him running all day and Puffin feels neglected. With the help of his parents he crafts a plan to be a friend himself and get involved, starting with the school play. Puffin will get a chance to shine (literally) on Opening Night.
The graphics as colorful and engaging. Loved the little bits of avian humor and the side story about other birds thinking Puffin is another Penguin. A cute new graphic novel to introduce to young elementary kids, especially those who are in a new school or struggle to make friends.
A big thank you to my GR buddy Rosh for bringing this encouraging little read to my attention. Also to Kids Can Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
When Puffin relocated from Iceland to Brookloon in New Stork City with his parents, he has to go to a new school. On his first day at the United Avian Nations School, Penguin is assigned as his buddy. Penguin's helpful nature has him running all day and Puffin feels neglected. With the help of his parents he crafts a plan to be a friend himself and get involved, starting with the school play. Puffin will get a chance to shine (literally) on Opening Night.
The graphics as colorful and engaging. Loved the little bits of avian humor and the side story about other birds thinking Puffin is another Penguin. A cute new graphic novel to introduce to young elementary kids, especially those who are in a new school or struggle to make friends.
A big thank you to my GR buddy Rosh for bringing this encouraging little read to my attention. Also to Kids Can Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2025
I feel like this title suffers from too much story. I think it could've benefited from a tighter story about Puffin's move and making friends rather than including the school play.
It's super cute though! The art is super fun with the style sketchy and crayon-adjacent. I love when kids comics are less clean and neat and polished - I think it's less intimidating for the kids than the sketchy, visibly drawn stylings in this title.
A personal qualm is how not-silly the puffins are. Puffins are common in Newfoundland and I've chased many of them. They are so dumb. Like will-eat-themselves-to-the-point-of-not-being-able-to-fly dumb. They just end up floating in the ocean like a well-stuffed snack for anything that eats sea birds. They also don't control their glow. They just kind of... do that. As I said they are very dumb. They make up for it by being adorable and tasty (apparently? I've not eaten puffin).
It's super cute though! The art is super fun with the style sketchy and crayon-adjacent. I love when kids comics are less clean and neat and polished - I think it's less intimidating for the kids than the sketchy, visibly drawn stylings in this title.
A personal qualm is how not-silly the puffins are. Puffins are common in Newfoundland and I've chased many of them. They are so dumb. Like will-eat-themselves-to-the-point-of-not-being-able-to-fly dumb. They just end up floating in the ocean like a well-stuffed snack for anything that eats sea birds. They also don't control their glow. They just kind of... do that. As I said they are very dumb. They make up for it by being adorable and tasty (apparently? I've not eaten puffin).
August 21, 2024
Pitched really young, this comic book has Puffin the puffin go to a new school when his family relocate to New Stork City. He thinks he knows the drill – make new friends straight away – and he thinks he knows how easy that will be. But when he comes on too strong, all earnest and a little too braggy, he finds that becoming a friend is not an automatic thing. Let's face it, it's a school for birds, so he should have expected a pecking order… It's an unusual read in that it focuses on the school play as part of the plot – normally a franchise only goes down that route when it's running out of initial ideas, about Book Four or Five – but there's a reason for that choice. And ultimately this makes simple, sensible logic – as does the very decision to check it out. It won't blow anyone's minds, but it'll be engaging fun for some short length of time for some short readers.
August 20, 2024
Me: This was a really fun read with my two gremlins 8 and 11. They were laughing at all of the puns and funny things turned into birds. For me it was funny without being toilet humor (I’m not opposed to this but sometimes it’s nice to not hear fart jokes 24/7). I also had a good time with the story so reading it wasn’t a drag, we were able to read it in one sitting and all of our neurodiverse brains stayed engaged.
8 year old: 5 trillion/5 stars. It was great, I love EVERYTHING besides the ice cream part.
11 year old: 5/5 stars. It was pretty good, I liked the entire play scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helaine Becker; Kevin Sylvester, and Kids Can Press for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) and provide my honest opinion/review.
8 year old: 5 trillion/5 stars. It was great, I love EVERYTHING besides the ice cream part.
11 year old: 5/5 stars. It was pretty good, I liked the entire play scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helaine Becker; Kevin Sylvester, and Kids Can Press for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) and provide my honest opinion/review.
September 5, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for this advanced reader copy.
Puffin is off to a new school as he and his family have recently moved. It is Puffin's first day of school, and he expects to make new friends easily. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t recognize him as Puffin, the bird. He gets assigned to Penguin, who is supposed to help Puffin navigate the school, however, Penguin is too busy to do this. Puffin tries many ways to gain friends, being strong, earnest, sharing, and even being a little braggy, but he fails. Puffin is very sad and angry about this! What happens next... Does he try again? Does Puffin make new friends at school?
Graphic novel style
Simple text
Adorable illustrations
Beautiful story with a good message
Perfect for ages 6+
Puffin is off to a new school as he and his family have recently moved. It is Puffin's first day of school, and he expects to make new friends easily. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t recognize him as Puffin, the bird. He gets assigned to Penguin, who is supposed to help Puffin navigate the school, however, Penguin is too busy to do this. Puffin tries many ways to gain friends, being strong, earnest, sharing, and even being a little braggy, but he fails. Puffin is very sad and angry about this! What happens next... Does he try again? Does Puffin make new friends at school?
Graphic novel style
Simple text
Adorable illustrations
Beautiful story with a good message
Perfect for ages 6+
July 31, 2024
What a fantastic romance novel! We meet Erin and quickly learn that she has put her life on a sort of hold as she still mourns the loss of her best friend. We meet James who is also putting his on life on a timeout in order to help his father take care of his mother. They are two people until they accidentally discover a book swap or little free library. I struggled with a few chapters as the descriptions of depression and bipolar disorder are somewhat triggering for me but overall, the back and forth between the two characters in their own lives and through the margins of books was delightful to read.
September 30, 2024
Puffin is excited about his first day at his new school when Penguin - the coolest kid in school - is assigned to be his buddy. Penguin is too busy to hang out with Puffin, starring as King Midas in the school play among his other activities, leaving Puffin on his own to figure out making friends.
This was a cute children’s book that a lot of kids can probably relate to. It has funny moments and touching moments, too. In addition to being entertaining, it incorporates some interesting bird facts into the story. I recommend this for elementary-aged kids.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
This was a cute children’s book that a lot of kids can probably relate to. It has funny moments and touching moments, too. In addition to being entertaining, it incorporates some interesting bird facts into the story. I recommend this for elementary-aged kids.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
October 9, 2024
Puffin is moving from Iceland to new stork city and is the new kid in school. Penguin is a busy student who is forced to be puffin’s buddy. Puffin tries too hard to make friends and penguin is too busy to help. Puffin finally finds a place he can join in—with the school play on the stage crew. He has a special way of saving the play. The beginning of the book talks about United avian nations as if it’s going to be a big part of the story and then never brings it up again. The relationship between puffin and penguin is confusing and not relatable. The school play about king Midas is an odd choice.
August 13, 2024
When Puffin moves to a new school he is thrilled to have Penguin as his buddy. The only problem is that Penguin is super busy. Puffin "Puffy" has a hard time making friends. Everyone thinks he is a small penguin or that he tries too hard. With patience and hard work Puffin is able to find his own place at the school.
I can see this being popular with the younger crowd in the graphic novel section. The birds are cute, the problems universal, and the storyline grabs attention.
Copy provided by NetGalley, all thought are my own.
I can see this being popular with the younger crowd in the graphic novel section. The birds are cute, the problems universal, and the storyline grabs attention.
Copy provided by NetGalley, all thought are my own.
September 9, 2024
My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 1 October 2024 - publication day!
This is a really cute story with a fab ending!
The book is well written and easy to follow for the age range - my daughter falls within the target audience and she really enjoyed the story.
The story centres around Puffin when he starts a new school in a new country after his mum gets a new job. The book has some cute illustrations too and we will be reading it again later tonight.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon- very highly recommended!
This is a really cute story with a fab ending!
The book is well written and easy to follow for the age range - my daughter falls within the target audience and she really enjoyed the story.
The story centres around Puffin when he starts a new school in a new country after his mum gets a new job. The book has some cute illustrations too and we will be reading it again later tonight.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon- very highly recommended!
November 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this sweet children's book. It teaches the value of friendship and looking out for each other. It also seems to teach that wanting to be helpful can make you seem like a show off, which was a bit confusing. Puffin is very autistic coded and I enjoyed that, particularly as puffins are one of my special interests
Overall a cute book about community. Giving it 4 stars because some of it didn't quite add up and the images in the pdf I was reading from were very pixilated compared to the text, which was a shame
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
Overall a cute book about community. Giving it 4 stars because some of it didn't quite add up and the images in the pdf I was reading from were very pixilated compared to the text, which was a shame
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
January 17, 2025
A fun graphic novel bout Puffin and his family as they move home and he starts a new school. There he tries his hardest to make new friends and meets Penguin, a cool but busy bird.
This is a cute fast read for the younger end of middle grade. It’s overall message of being yourself and having empathy towards others is a great one for this age group.
I loved the colourful, cute illustrations and play on the names of places New Stork city and Brookloon.
Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC.
This is a cute fast read for the younger end of middle grade. It’s overall message of being yourself and having empathy towards others is a great one for this age group.
I loved the colourful, cute illustrations and play on the names of places New Stork city and Brookloon.
Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC.
October 4, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for a copy of this book.
I have a nephew that would love this book as he is into comic book style reading and loves penguins. The storyline was super cute and had a great message. The illustrations were colorful and a great addition to the story. Highly recommend for that age range.
I have a nephew that would love this book as he is into comic book style reading and loves penguins. The storyline was super cute and had a great message. The illustrations were colorful and a great addition to the story. Highly recommend for that age range.
April 28, 2025
3 stars (I liked it)
I think my expectations were too high for this graphic novel. Mostly because I really like penguins. But I kind of thought the school was a little weird and then I felt like too much was happening that the story was a bit jumpy.
I did learn the cool fact about puffin beaks!
I think my expectations were too high for this graphic novel. Mostly because I really like penguins. But I kind of thought the school was a little weird and then I felt like too much was happening that the story was a bit jumpy.
I did learn the cool fact about puffin beaks!
August 1, 2024
A cute story about animals who parent work for the world embassy and all the kids who parent work for together all go to school together. This is a great story for kids who move to another place and want to make new friends.
December 21, 2024
A sweet book about moving schools and making new friends. This one teaches compassion and friendship through the animals who are studying together. Puffin moves countries and this cute book takes us through the challenges he faces as he tries to befriend penguin.
April 21, 2025
This book is very kid friendly. Penguin is lonely at his new school and tries to get a buddy. I loved how they started out not liking each other and then they became besties.
Content disclaimer: the ending includes wizardry
Content disclaimer: the ending includes wizardry
August 24, 2024
ARC Copy...Thought it was cute and funny and agree with the blurb...fans of Owl might like this. Found it cute and relatable for school kids, that yes is scary and..."I'm busy!"
October 28, 2024
A entertaining graphic novel with brightly coloured comics, a determined puffin and an extremely busy penguin. A great addition to conversations on friendship and belonging.
November 22, 2024
Ehh...not what I was hoping for, but my bird-loving six-year-old enjoyed it.
January 11, 2026
Cute book about a puffin and penguin who become friends.
February 2, 2025
This was meh. It was sorta cute I guess but it was just mostly kinda lame.
January 17, 2025
Cute and lovely illustrations. Meaningful story.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews