One Cool Friend
written by Toni Buzzeo
illustrated by David Small
ISBN 9780803734135
30 pages
Copywrite: 2012
Recommended ages 4-10
2013 Caldecott Honor Book
2013 ALA Notable Children’s Book
2013 Maine Literary Award for Children’s Books
New York Times Best Seller
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Eliot and his father are both nuts about the natural world.
One day, the local aquarium is having a special Family Fun Day so they visit the aquarium together. Eliot falls in love with the penguins and after asking his father's permission, brings a penguin home in his backpack. The antics that ensue as he tries to keep Magellan fed and adjust the house temperature to suit him are hilarious. The twist on the last page will have you rolling!
It's nice to find humor in a children's picture book that will entertain both children and adults. Kudos to this author, and David Small's whimsical drawings perfectly complement the text. Eliot and his father are “larger than life.”
Content considerations
A subtle reference is made to Charles Darwin in the illustrations