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Zenguin
Learn about mindfulness and calm with the help of ZENGUIN!
From New York Times bestselling illustrator Sydney Hanson and Danna Smith comes a sweet and calming picture book that helps instill life skills in young readers with basic, age-appropriate concept learning.
Penguin is anxious amidst the hustle and bustle of his busy colony. He wishes to feel calm inside, but he doesn’t know how! Thankfully, a few of his Antarctica friends teach him their strategies for finding inner peace. Before long, Penguin can use his own zen techniques to handle a stressful situation, earning him his new name—Zenguin!
From New York Times bestselling illustrator Sydney Hanson and Danna Smith comes a sweet and calming picture book that helps instill life skills in young readers with basic, age-appropriate concept learning.
Penguin is anxious amidst the hustle and bustle of his busy colony. He wishes to feel calm inside, but he doesn’t know how! Thankfully, a few of his Antarctica friends teach him their strategies for finding inner peace. Before long, Penguin can use his own zen techniques to handle a stressful situation, earning him his new name—Zenguin!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2026
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Danna Smith
35 books66 followersWhen Danna was a child, her favorite “toy” was a pencil. Today, she is a poet and award-winning author of over twenty-five books for children. Danna lives in northern California with her husband, children, and grandchildren. For more information about her books and teaching activities, visit her website at www.dannadmithbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 6, 2025
¡Mi maestro antártico!
January 13, 2026
5yr old: The penguins are so cute! In daycare we did criss-cross applesauce and sang the ABCs when we were too loud. I liked it when his sister made Penguin a gift.
8yr old: Penguin can’t concentrate because everyone and everything is too loud. It’s like recess when all the kids are out and everything is chaotic, including me. And then we have to go back to class but sometimes we still have too much energy and the teacher has to tell us to calm down. My favorite part is when Penguin helps his sister by using what he learns.
My review: This is a sweet little mindfulness story that somehow manages to be earnest without being annoying. Our overwhelmed penguin protagonist is just trying to survive a very loud, very chaotic world and honestly, same 🙃 The clever move is having different animals teach him calming techniques which keeps the message from feeling preachy 🪷 The tiny heart on Penguin’s chest? Entirely unnecessary and yet completely perfect 💙
What really works is that it doesn’t just say “calm down” (which I am guilty of saying 😑). Instead it gives kids actual and usable tools for managing big feelings ✨ while also reinforcing that it’s okay and important to ask for help. It introduces mindfulness in a way that’s practical, relatable and genuinely charming, making it a solid little guide for young kids learning how to exist in a world that is, frankly, a lot 🌍
Thank you so much @dannasmithbooks @sydwiki @workmanpubkids @WorkmanPub @Artisan_Books for the #gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review!
8yr old: Penguin can’t concentrate because everyone and everything is too loud. It’s like recess when all the kids are out and everything is chaotic, including me. And then we have to go back to class but sometimes we still have too much energy and the teacher has to tell us to calm down. My favorite part is when Penguin helps his sister by using what he learns.
My review: This is a sweet little mindfulness story that somehow manages to be earnest without being annoying. Our overwhelmed penguin protagonist is just trying to survive a very loud, very chaotic world and honestly, same 🙃 The clever move is having different animals teach him calming techniques which keeps the message from feeling preachy 🪷 The tiny heart on Penguin’s chest? Entirely unnecessary and yet completely perfect 💙
What really works is that it doesn’t just say “calm down” (which I am guilty of saying 😑). Instead it gives kids actual and usable tools for managing big feelings ✨ while also reinforcing that it’s okay and important to ask for help. It introduces mindfulness in a way that’s practical, relatable and genuinely charming, making it a solid little guide for young kids learning how to exist in a world that is, frankly, a lot 🌍
Thank you so much @dannasmithbooks @sydwiki @workmanpubkids @WorkmanPub @Artisan_Books for the #gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 30, 2026
Penguin is overwhelmed by all the noise and hustle and bustle around him and just needs to find some peace. He remembers hearing other animals talk about something called zen. As he asks his animal friends (a whale, a walrus, etc.) they all describe actual tangible things Penguin can do to help himself. This is a great mindfulness book for kids because it's not didactic, instead it adorable and practical. At the back there's a spread that lays out in more detail four specific techniques to calming oneself.
A great story time or one-on-one read!
A great story time or one-on-one read!
Read
February 3, 2026Super cute, and I really like the accessibility of the ideas for creating your own zen/calming down your big feelings.
December 2, 2025
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Penguin has a busy life in Antarctica with his large community, but sometimes it gets to be too much. There is a lot of noise and commotion, and he has a younger sister, Pip, who is very vocal. One day, after squabbling over a fish with Pip, he yells at everyone to be quiet and stomps off. Taking a moment to regroup, he recalls that some of his friends talk about a feeling of calm called "zen". He asks Blue Whale how to stay calm, and Blue Whale teaches Penguin to take deep breaths. Seal models yoga practices, and Gull explains how his wintery zen garden helps him stay calm. All of these things help him feel calmer. When Pip gets tangled up in her knitting yarn after a gust of wind, Penguin helps her to calm down so he can untangle her by uses some of the methods he has learned. Pip is glad to be free, and the next day brings her brother a sweater with his name on it. The last page includes some calming techniques.
Since Pip's use of double pointed knitting needles for creating a glove is quite well rendered, we will imagine that she has been working on the sweater for Penguin for some time, but decides to give it to him after her incident. It's a lovely sweater, complete with either a color work or duplicate stitch name, so she didn't whip that up overnight, especially since fitting a sweater over wings can't be easy!
Hanson's illustrations are rendered in soft blues and grays, with some touches of purple, reflect the wintery landscape and penguin monotones while also infusing an air of calm. There's a delightfully fuzzy quality to the pictures that makes Penguin and Pip seems very cuddly.
This simple story has some clever moments; having different animals teach Penguin calming techniques is inspired, and I particularly loved Gull's snow zen garden. The heart on Penguin's chest is somehow an endearing touch.
There are a growing number of children's picture books about mindfulness, and Zenguin joins the list of these that includes Davison and Allright's Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny, Verde and Reynold's I Am Peace, Sooful and Zacarias' Counting to Calm, Wilson's Think: A Celebration of Mindfulness, and Gravel's Puppy in My Head.
Penguin has a busy life in Antarctica with his large community, but sometimes it gets to be too much. There is a lot of noise and commotion, and he has a younger sister, Pip, who is very vocal. One day, after squabbling over a fish with Pip, he yells at everyone to be quiet and stomps off. Taking a moment to regroup, he recalls that some of his friends talk about a feeling of calm called "zen". He asks Blue Whale how to stay calm, and Blue Whale teaches Penguin to take deep breaths. Seal models yoga practices, and Gull explains how his wintery zen garden helps him stay calm. All of these things help him feel calmer. When Pip gets tangled up in her knitting yarn after a gust of wind, Penguin helps her to calm down so he can untangle her by uses some of the methods he has learned. Pip is glad to be free, and the next day brings her brother a sweater with his name on it. The last page includes some calming techniques.
Since Pip's use of double pointed knitting needles for creating a glove is quite well rendered, we will imagine that she has been working on the sweater for Penguin for some time, but decides to give it to him after her incident. It's a lovely sweater, complete with either a color work or duplicate stitch name, so she didn't whip that up overnight, especially since fitting a sweater over wings can't be easy!
Hanson's illustrations are rendered in soft blues and grays, with some touches of purple, reflect the wintery landscape and penguin monotones while also infusing an air of calm. There's a delightfully fuzzy quality to the pictures that makes Penguin and Pip seems very cuddly.
This simple story has some clever moments; having different animals teach Penguin calming techniques is inspired, and I particularly loved Gull's snow zen garden. The heart on Penguin's chest is somehow an endearing touch.
There are a growing number of children's picture books about mindfulness, and Zenguin joins the list of these that includes Davison and Allright's Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny, Verde and Reynold's I Am Peace, Sooful and Zacarias' Counting to Calm, Wilson's Think: A Celebration of Mindfulness, and Gravel's Puppy in My Head.
Read
January 17, 2026See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/zenguin/
ZENGUIN is a cute picture book about finding ways to stay calm. Penguin is a bit overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle of penguin life. After a troubling time, he travels to ask other animals how they find their calm, learning about breathing and yoga. After practicing, Penguin is able to bring those back to the penguins and find his calm in any situation.
What I loved: This is an overall cute way to help teach children about ways to find their calm in a busy world. The story includes instructions for some of these basic techniques and gives readers the tools to practice them at a basic level in their own lives. The story is fairly straight-forward throughout.
Due to length and content, this may work best for early elementary school readers, who might be experiencing more turmoil and overwhelm with school and similar situations. The writing is easy to follow, and the illustrations are soothing and soft. Ultimately, the book includes some helpful tips for staying calm that they can use in their own lives.
Final verdict: Overall, ZENGUIN is a helpful tool for children who are learning to find their inner peace in a tumultuous world.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
ZENGUIN is a cute picture book about finding ways to stay calm. Penguin is a bit overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle of penguin life. After a troubling time, he travels to ask other animals how they find their calm, learning about breathing and yoga. After practicing, Penguin is able to bring those back to the penguins and find his calm in any situation.
What I loved: This is an overall cute way to help teach children about ways to find their calm in a busy world. The story includes instructions for some of these basic techniques and gives readers the tools to practice them at a basic level in their own lives. The story is fairly straight-forward throughout.
Due to length and content, this may work best for early elementary school readers, who might be experiencing more turmoil and overwhelm with school and similar situations. The writing is easy to follow, and the illustrations are soothing and soft. Ultimately, the book includes some helpful tips for staying calm that they can use in their own lives.
Final verdict: Overall, ZENGUIN is a helpful tool for children who are learning to find their inner peace in a tumultuous world.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 14, 2026
Zenguin is a sweet picture book that teaches mindfulness in age-appropriate way. Danna Smith’s simple text is warm and inviting matching the tone of her message. And artist Sydney Hanson’s friendly illustrations are adorable. This would make an excellent addition to any social-emotional learning library.
The publisher’s suggested age is ages 4 to 8, but because of the simplicity, I suggest ages 3-7.
The publisher’s suggested age is ages 4 to 8, but because of the simplicity, I suggest ages 3-7.
April 2, 2026
A fun cute little read!! The artwork was fantastic and the tiny little penguin helped me feel zen the entire time I read!
I love how on the last page of the book it gives tips on how to find calmness and different exercises that can be done to also achieve that zen.
Very beautiful story and who knew I would find zen reading about a penguin finding zen!
I love how on the last page of the book it gives tips on how to find calmness and different exercises that can be done to also achieve that zen.
Very beautiful story and who knew I would find zen reading about a penguin finding zen!
January 6, 2026
You know those moments when a peaceful, calm moment would be a dream come true? Well this sweet picture book shows readers young and old, ” …How I feel zen.” Penguin + Zen = Ahhh...Perfect combo.
February 25, 2026
Favorite winter penguin fun for little ones by a favorite author! Perfect for libraries and young children's bookshelves.
March 19, 2026
A very cute book about how to feel zen (or more calm and peaceful) while looking at illustrations of an adorable penguin.
March 25, 2026
Cute artwork and helpful story to teach kids tools to deal with big emotions.
March 31, 2026
Zenguin is peaceful for me. It helps me breathe and it calms me down and all about this book it's great for other people to calm down like me, even people kinda like me with anger issues.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews