Bye, Penguin!

by Seou Lee

You’d think that a Penguin stranded on an ever smaller block of ice, on a trip around the world, wouldn’t be so…FUN! But it is! There’s our fearless Penguin passing the gondolas of Venice…there’s Penguin floating by the Sydney Opera house! From the Aurora Borealis to a hilarious encounter with a surfer in Hawaii, this is a wordless journey that truly FROLICKS. In fact the adventures are so amusing that most readers will barely register the nod to global warming until it’s slipped right in on the breath of a laugh.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Travel, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ADORABLE wordless picture book!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wordless picture book about a lone penguin trapped on a ice floe that breaks away from the waddle and floats from place to place around the seven seas. His return to the waddle is a surprise and unique in itself.

[Shannon (That's So Poe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this wordless picture book, but it really did convey such a sweet and funny story about a little penguin who unintentionally goes on some adventures. The ending made me laugh quite a bit!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really neat book! A penguin unwittingly goes on an adventure.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, wow, I found this terrifying, not fun at all. The ice floe would have melted long long ago, as any child knows. And why didn't penguin just swim back to their colony while still close enough (I ask, and young me would have asked, too)?

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onomatopoeia on the first page or two, but then wordless.

A penguin is stuck on a piece of ice that breaks away. The penguin then floats around the world in an order that makes absolutely no sense.
* home
* Southern Lights
* Ice caves or fjords
* Rio de Janeiro
* NYC
* ???
* Sydney
* generic Pacific island
* back home

I like that the penguin switches from the almost-melted-away ice floe to a surfboard on the Pacific island and uses the surfboard to make it home.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Another gorgeous wordless book. A penguin is alone on a spot at the edge of the ice when it breaks off and floats away to wonders. I'm not sure a book could be any more simple in concept and execution and still be so charming. A lovely, unexpected, and fun ending.

Library copy

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The world of wordless picture books is rich with tremendous authors-illustrators. There are books by Molly Idle, Shaun Tan, Suzy Lee, Aaron Becker, David Wiesner, Matthew Cordell and Guojing, to name just a handful of incredible creators. Now flying into the mix comes author and animator Seou Lee, with her noteworthy picture book debut Bye, Penguin!. With only two words used in its entirety, Bye, Penguin! is a story of emotion, of surprises, and of world adventure. As the story opens, a penguin standing at a slight distance from their group finds themselves suddenly floating alone as ice splits and breaks. The penguin, now adrift on a small piece of ice with only a fish in their mouth for company, sails far. Sails farther than anyone could ever imagine, seeing sights most have only ever dreamed about. However, as penguin continues along, the looming question becomes: when and how will penguin ever make it back home? Striking in its simplicity, modish, and funny- with a sharp look at climate change in the mix- Bye, Penguin! manages so much in its wordless styling and storytelling. Bye touching on numerous concepts, Bye, Penguin! is not only a winter/seasonal tale, but also one that can be read and appreciated in a multitude of ways, and throughout the seasons. A surprising, impressive picture book, with some of the most fantastic and sublime depictions of penguins I have seen, Bye, Penguin! is definitely recommended reading.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This near wordless picture book - the crack and the snick of the ice being the only words - sees a young penguin separated from the waddle of penguins - looking lost and forlorn. But then an adventure unfolds as he sees the aurora australis before drifting, on a gradually shrinking ice sheet, to various places around the world. Children will enjoy working these out from the iconic landmarks that he floats past. But as he heads back south the ice is almost gone. The solution is original and amusing!
Water colour and pen present clear, expressive and bold double page spreads to effectively recount penguin’s travels and the stylised landmarks of the countries. Great for introducing some simple world geography, but questioning children will wonder how the ice survived the warmer waters.
Good fun!

[Christina Brandsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute wordless picture book about a penguin adventure! I love inviting children to co-create through the act of storytelling without scripted words. Life is story and helping kids ask who, what, when, where, why, thinking, feeling, doing, saying helps them understand the breadth and depth of story. I also enjoy thinking through different stories within a given set of illustrations. I really enjoyed this one, but I do wish the illustrations were a little bit more interesting or detailed.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations! And I love a good wordless picture book. However, this book felt like a bunch of pictures put together. I wish there was more transitional illustrations between locations that would've added some details to the storyline and creativity. Still, love the ending and general simple nature of the illustrations.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful picture book that lets kids draw their own conclusions about what the penguin is doing in each scene with odds to landmarks and other natural phenomena with no text. This is perfect as a read alone or with a parent for ages 3-5.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mostly wordless picture book follows an unsuspecting penguin as it floats off on an adventure around the world on it's slowly melting chunk of ice. Super cute yet simple illustrations. The penguin's facial expressions are so adorable!

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd book. I felt like it needed...something. Back matter with names of the places visited so the adult doesn't have to interpret what is going on for the kid reader...something. Plus the idea of penguins losing their ice and drifting into water that is too warm is...to real to feel funny to me.

[Joy Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute good for early elementary school. I might have titled it, Penguin Explores or Unexpected Adventure of Penguin. The fun of a wordless book is that you could ask kids to make the story or think of another title...

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wordless picture book about a single, little penguin that floats away on a piece of cracked ice from his group. The ice floats him around the world, seeing different landmarks. The way he ends up home is entertaining and fun!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penguin stranded on an ever shrinking block of ice takes a trip around the world in this thoroughly delightful wordless adventure.

[Jennifer Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordless picture book. Great illustrations tell a good story.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book about a penguin stuck on ice who takes a trip around the world! Loved it! Cute book! I love penguins!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Global Warming, penguin babies, separation and return are all themes in this nearly wordless picture book.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wordless but fun story.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short wordless but cute story.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely darling wordless picture book!

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost wordless

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nearly wordless picture book with lovely illustrations and an adorable penguin off on an adventure!

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little penguins goes on a worldwide tour when his ice floe is set adrift in the ocean. Funny and expressive.

[Brenda Kahn]

Totally adorable, if not totally geographically logical. Small quibble. This book is so endearing.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wordless picture book is very cute. The illustrations are simple and adorable.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boys and I loved this wordless book! So many laughs at the end.

[McKinnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

wordless picture book about a penguin on a chuck of glacier that floats across the ocean