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Danger Eagle
An action-packed adventure featuring a stunt-penguin stuffed animal, this picture book by award-winning author Jesse Wente will appeal to movie fans young and old.
It's bird! It's a plane!
It's DANGER EAGLE!
Danger Eagle is brave.
Danger Eagle is bold.
Danger Eagle is . . . a penguin?
No matter! Danger Eagle is up for any challenge, and there's nothing that one-of-a-kind this stunt-stuffie can't do… Or is there?
Read on to find out in this action-packed origin story!
It's bird! It's a plane!
It's DANGER EAGLE!
Danger Eagle is brave.
Danger Eagle is bold.
Danger Eagle is . . . a penguin?
No matter! Danger Eagle is up for any challenge, and there's nothing that one-of-a-kind this stunt-stuffie can't do… Or is there?
Read on to find out in this action-packed origin story!
- GenresPicture Books
Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
12 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Wente
3 books76 followersJesse Wente is an Ojibwe broadcaster, curator, producer, activist, and public speaker.
He is Head of TIFF Cinematheque, where he oversees the historical film programme year–round at TIFF Bell Lightbox. An outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art, he has spoken at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the Canadian Arts Summit, CMPA’s Prime Time, and numerous universities and colleges.
He appears weekly on CBC Radio One’s Metro Morning and recently curated a series of five short films for CBC Arts titled Keep Calm and Decolonize. Wente currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.
He is Head of TIFF Cinematheque, where he oversees the historical film programme year–round at TIFF Bell Lightbox. An outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art, he has spoken at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the Canadian Arts Summit, CMPA’s Prime Time, and numerous universities and colleges.
He appears weekly on CBC Radio One’s Metro Morning and recently curated a series of five short films for CBC Arts titled Keep Calm and Decolonize. Wente currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 28, 2025
Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is such a cute book. It's about Lena who as you can see thinks deep down in her bones she is a dinosaur. She couldn't understand her family being to scared of everthing and her family couldn't understand her being brave and bold. They would tell Lena things like she had "Big Ideas." Basically, they thought she was a dreamer.
One day a weasel made it to the door of the chicken coop. Lena went into action. She found it deep insider her and made the loudest sound any of the chickens have ever made...."KKKRRAAGGGHH!!" came out of her mouth. After this sound was made her family believed she was a dinosaur. The human family's daughter Madeline came home and was excited about a Science Fair Project where she found out chickens are related to dinosaurs.
Lena had known all along she really was a dinosaur.
Lena teaches her family self defense, making big noises, standing up for yourself and most importantly sticking together. They learned together that being different is ok and to embrace each other. Also on the final page there are facts about chickens and dinosaurs.
This book was super fun trying to make the chicken sounds. I can see you and your family running around the house imitating being a chicken.
-Thank you NetGallery and Penguin Random House for providing the ARC.
One day a weasel made it to the door of the chicken coop. Lena went into action. She found it deep insider her and made the loudest sound any of the chickens have ever made...."KKKRRAAGGGHH!!" came out of her mouth. After this sound was made her family believed she was a dinosaur. The human family's daughter Madeline came home and was excited about a Science Fair Project where she found out chickens are related to dinosaurs.
Lena had known all along she really was a dinosaur.
Lena teaches her family self defense, making big noises, standing up for yourself and most importantly sticking together. They learned together that being different is ok and to embrace each other. Also on the final page there are facts about chickens and dinosaurs.
This book was super fun trying to make the chicken sounds. I can see you and your family running around the house imitating being a chicken.
-Thank you NetGallery and Penguin Random House for providing the ARC.
April 6, 2025
This picture book has action-packed, colorful illustrations, and it shows a child's beloved penguin stuffed animal doing exciting stunts. The story goes back and forth between imagination and real life, showing how Danger Eagle defies the odds and keeps doing amazing stunts, no matter who questions them. (The story does not indicate a gender for the stuffed animal, and uses "they" pronouns for it in one sentence. Danger Eagle is just Danger Eagle, with no pronouns, the rest of the time.)
The illustrations are really cute, and I loved the story. This will be super relatable for kids, since it so accurately portrays the ways that kids play with their toys, and it will be fun and nostalgic for adults, too. This is also great for reading aloud, and it invites lots of energy and a great announcer voice. I really enjoyed this, and I hope that there will be sequels.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The illustrations are really cute, and I loved the story. This will be super relatable for kids, since it so accurately portrays the ways that kids play with their toys, and it will be fun and nostalgic for adults, too. This is also great for reading aloud, and it invites lots of energy and a great announcer voice. I really enjoyed this, and I hope that there will be sequels.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 20, 2025
I just want to start off by saying I think it's hilarious and ironic that Ollie Ostrich is daring Danger Eagle to fly when ostriches are flightless birds...
Anyways, this is simply an awesome book! I think that the comic book style of the writing was such a clever decision to make for this story, as it matched the mood of the book impeccably. It also does a great job of maintaining the reader's attention, which is always a plus. Adding onto that, the illustrations also had a similar feel due to the crisp lines and vibrant colors, and I loved to see this consistency throughout the book. As for the story itself, it was also great! The plot was clear and well-organized, and the ending was absolutely perfect. This is a book that is truly fit for any type of reader out there, and will no doubt inspire confidence within everyone. Bravo!
(This isn't a critique but real quick, why is Danger EAGLE a penguin???)
Anyways, this is simply an awesome book! I think that the comic book style of the writing was such a clever decision to make for this story, as it matched the mood of the book impeccably. It also does a great job of maintaining the reader's attention, which is always a plus. Adding onto that, the illustrations also had a similar feel due to the crisp lines and vibrant colors, and I loved to see this consistency throughout the book. As for the story itself, it was also great! The plot was clear and well-organized, and the ending was absolutely perfect. This is a book that is truly fit for any type of reader out there, and will no doubt inspire confidence within everyone. Bravo!
(This isn't a critique but real quick, why is Danger EAGLE a penguin???)
November 12, 2025
⭐ Children’s Fiction | Playful | Imaginative
Thank you to Tundra Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Danger Eagle is a delightful and action-packed children’s story about a stuffed penguin who believes he’s a daring hero performing epic stunts. In reality, he’s the beloved toy of a child whose vivid imagination brings each adventure to life. The contrast between the toy’s perspective and the imaginative world his owner creates adds humor and charm to the story.
The illustrations have a fun, vector-like style that pops with color and energy, perfectly matching the comic book–inspired text layout. The typography make it feel as if readers are diving right into a kid’s homemade superhero comic.
Overall, Danger Eagle is a spirited, funny, and creative read that celebrates imagination, play, and the boundless adventures that can happen when a child brings their toys to life.
Thank you to Tundra Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Danger Eagle is a delightful and action-packed children’s story about a stuffed penguin who believes he’s a daring hero performing epic stunts. In reality, he’s the beloved toy of a child whose vivid imagination brings each adventure to life. The contrast between the toy’s perspective and the imaginative world his owner creates adds humor and charm to the story.
The illustrations have a fun, vector-like style that pops with color and energy, perfectly matching the comic book–inspired text layout. The typography make it feel as if readers are diving right into a kid’s homemade superhero comic.
Overall, Danger Eagle is a spirited, funny, and creative read that celebrates imagination, play, and the boundless adventures that can happen when a child brings their toys to life.
March 30, 2025
Danger Eagle is adorable! A young child opens a stuffed penguin and their imagination springs to life. I enjoyed seeing his adventures and will read this to my preschoolers. I found the beginning of the book to be more engaging than the end, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I look forward to further adventures with Danger Eagle. Thanks to NetGalley and Jesse Wente for this ARC for an honest opinion.
March 24, 2025
Thank you to Tundra Book Group for the ARC through NetGalley.
4.5 stars! This adorable picture book about a stunt (stuffed) penguin has great artwork and a cute story about being yourself. It ends on a cliffhanger, so I'm hoping there will be more to come! How brave is Danger Eagle? What happens when Danger Eagle is questioned about that bravery? Find out in Danger Eagle!
4.5 stars! This adorable picture book about a stunt (stuffed) penguin has great artwork and a cute story about being yourself. It ends on a cliffhanger, so I'm hoping there will be more to come! How brave is Danger Eagle? What happens when Danger Eagle is questioned about that bravery? Find out in Danger Eagle!
March 30, 2025
My son wants to know what else happens to Danger Eagle! Such a cute story about a brave little toy who doesn’t give up and defies the odds. It promotes the message of never giving up. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced reader copy of this adorable book to share with my little boy.
March 21, 2025
Great illustrations! Kind of confusing on how the kid is playing with toys then it jumps to the real world.
June 6, 2025
Cute and silly.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
June 3, 2025
My daughter (5) was sad at the end of this book, because there wasn’t more! When she realized we were at the end she told me I had to “tell the writer to write more!” This book is kind of in the vein of the Toy Story opening shorts where we’re in the story created by the kid playing with the toys, interrupted by the real world peeking in once in a while. The illustrations are very cute and dynamic, the story is engaging and clearly leaves readers wanting more. Definitely a book I and my daughter hope will become a series! We read this e book through NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews