Κλάιβ ο πιγκουίνος

by Huw Lewis-Jones, Ben Sanders (Illustrator)

Δεν είναι καθόλου εύκολο να είσαι ο Κλάιβ. Αν και είναι πιγκουίνος και θα έπρεπε να είναι συνηθισμένος στο κρύο, για κάποιο λόγο εκείνος κρυώνει συνεχώς. Αυτό τον κάνει να νιώθει διαφορετικός από τους υπόλοιπους πιγκουίνους. Ονειρεύεται συχνά ότι βρίσκεται κάπου μακρινά και ζεστά, ή ότι είναι κάποιος άλλος.

Πώς είναι να αντιμετωπίζεις ένα τόσο ασυνήθιστο πρόβλημα; Θα νιώσει ποτέ άνετα ο Κλάιβ; Κάτι πρέπει να αλλάξει και είναι αποφασισμένος να κάνει ό,τι μπορεί γι' αυτό!

Τελικά, η πιο «κουλ» περιπέτεια στον κόσμο των πιγκουίνων είναι αυτή που μπορείς να είσαι ο εαυτός σου.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Storytime, Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Huw Lewis-Jones is a British historian, editor, broadcaster and art director. Formerly a historian and Curator of Art at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lewis-Jones left Cambridge in June 2010 to pursue book and broadcasting projects. He is the Editorial Director of the independent publishing company Polarworld.

Lewis-Jones is now working on an exploration of classic mountain photography and a large photography project for the national charity the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. His most recent books as an author are a new history of the South Pole and an Arctic travel narrative for television with popular BBC presenter and adventurer Bruce Parry.

Lewis-Jones' first book was Face to Face: Polar Portraits, an account of historic and modern photographic portraiture, published in 2008. British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes wrote its Foreword. The book was The Sunday Times 'Book of the Week' and a 'Book of the Year' in The Observer and received much praise elsewhere. It was also published in Italy by De Agostini and in Germany by Geo and Frederking and Thaler. The Explorers Journal described it as 'one of the most stunning books of photography in recent times'.

The next in his series, Ocean Portraits, a celebration of the sea told through rare historic imagery and modern maritime photography, was released in the United Kingdom in late 2010 by Conway, an imprint of London-based publishing house Anova Books. It is understood there will also be French and German language editions. Its Foreword was written by pioneering yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Described by Wanderlust magazine as a trove of 'portraiture at its best; personal, insightful and delightfully intriguing', it was selected by The Guardian as one of 'the year's best photography books'. Lewis-Jones has now completed Mountain Heroes: Portraits of Adventure, with a significant international team of authors and mountaineers including Doug Scott, Sir Chris Bonington, Stephen Venables, and the celebrated National Geographic photographers Gordon Wiltsie and Cory Richards. It won the Adventure Book of the Year at the World ITB Awards in Germany.

He is also the author of children books (Blue Badger, Bad Apple, Croc o’Clock, etc.).

Reviews

[T.S.C. Lawrence]

Yes, I may be a 31 year old woman who bought this book for herself.
But you know what...I don't care.
Clive is cool,we like Clive.
Clive and his cute little hat.

[Olivia Pham]

Short

[Claire]

I love Clive! This is hilarious! The looks on their faces. The illustrations are just awesome.

[Charlie]

Banger

[Jay Beard]

I am once again preparing for story time.

[Ellon]

3 stars (I liked it)

This definitely has Penguin Problems vibes (but not quite as good). It seems a bit rushed, but I did chuckle at the end.

I'm a pretty big penguin person so I probably had too high of expectations for this book. I don't love how the joke is supposed to be that the penguin doesn't like the cold because I'm a penguin nerd and feel the need to point out that not all penguin species live in Antarctica... but I can let that go since all the other penguins around Clive look like the same species... like I said, nerd.

[John Mullarkey]

This is a story about Clive - a penguin who certainly stands out among his fellow penguins. He yearns to be warm and live in warmer places. He dreams of finding adventure and something “better”, but just when he thinks he has made the right choice - I won’t give it away. The is a very funny deadpan story by Huw Lewis Jones and Ben Sanders with mainly black and white illustrations (and some clever use of orange). It makes a great read aloud as well. Children -and adults - can easily understand the subtle message tucked away on that floating slab of ice!

[Becky B]

Clive is a penguin who longs for change, adventure...and to not be so cold. So he goes on an adventure, and finds something that just might make his dreams come true.

The answer to Clive's wandering spirit and cold core is not exactly what I would have predicted an orange knit beanie which is why his find makes the story humorous and enjoyable. I like the art style used in this.

[Sarah]

A short and simple book about a penguin who seems pretty hard to satisfy. I used it in storytime, and it went fine, but I think it would work well to spark a conversation about how getting new things sometimes makes us feel better temporarily, but that satisfaction doesn't last. With preschoolers in a large group, that isn't really an easy conversation to have, but with older kids, or with young kids one-on-one I think this book could be used this way.

I really liked the art in this one.

[Laura Hook]

Clive is a penguin who is just a bit different than all of his friends. He definitely doesn't enjoy the cold and dreams of warmer places. He decides to set out on an adventure.

I like the bright colors in contrast to the black & white. I think kids will enjoy the surprises and humor in the book. I may be a bit of Clive myself....I don't enjoy being cold in winter all the time!

[Tam Ramsay]

Our 1 year old is obsessed with Clive Penguin! She thinks he is absolutely HILARIOUS! His silly hat, his “you’ve got to be joking”, the whale - everything. This is a book a know we will keep reading as she gets older and are enjoys now that she is a toddler. Even as adults, my husband and I get a chuckle out of the absurdity of Clive’s life choices.

[Jeremy]

Reminded me of "Penguin Problems" by Jory John meets one of Jon Klassen's Hat Books, except not quite as good as either. Illustrator Ben Sanders has definitely mastered Klassen's method of drawing a side-eye to comic effect.

[Debra]

Clive may be the most deadpan delivery ever! The story makes it clear that every penguin is not the same (much like every person is not the same). His solution to his being cold is adorable and laugh out loud funny.

Certainly this one will find an audience everywhere!

[Meredith]

A penguin sets out in search of something to ease his boredom, the monotony of life in his colony, and the cold.

This picture book reflects the American desire to be different and for a climate controlled environment as well as the universal tendency to be difficult to please.

[Kimia Domire]

A fun and funny story about a penguin looking for more excitement in his life, until he finds a colourful hat.

I will say, the ending feels a bit unresolved. So he's happy with the new fashion but unhappy because he's too hot? Now what? The story just ends there.

[Mairéad]

Super cute,humourous story with simple but effective illustrations sure to entertain readers aged 3+

[Jessica]

Absolutely hilarious!
The illustrations are simple but still bring so much life to the story.
🐧

[Leslie]

fun.
and like if Jory John and Jon Klassen made a book together.

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 1/2.5

Uniqueness, Penguins, Hats

Rarely does one thing solve all your problems.

[Elle Kerrigan]

Obsessed w Clive's vibe wish this were longer

[Cheryl Leon Levy]

Uninspired

[Jessie]

Love all the places where and people who Clive imagines himself being, everything he ignores, and how delighted he is by the hat. (And the cycling back around at the end!)

[Whitney]

I watched a read-along version of this and it's adorable. I love the art style, especially.

[Lindsay Diggs]

I saw the cover and thought, who's this diva? A diva, indeed.

[GlutenFreePixels]

The orange is eye burning and painful.

[Jennifer Miera]

Not clever enough and the story doesn't develop for long enough.

[Jessica]

The narrator starts the story, but Clive is not a happy penguin. He is a cold penguin. He goes in search of warmth. The ending is much like the beginning. Funny with cool artwork.

[M M]

I thought this was really cute

[Pinky LO]

Hilarious. Love the illustrations. Love the whale. Love the teapot. LOVE the aurora australis in the back.

[Dee Goudeau]

Not sure if I have the monotone voice needed to read this aloud but I did love the story and the funny ending.