 | |
| Author | Jory John |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Lane Smith |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Published | 2016 (Random House) |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | 29 (unpaginated) |
| ISBN | 9780553513370 |
| OCLC | 960168963 |
Penguin Problems is a 2016 Children's picture book by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith. It is about a penguin that complains about his situation. They would later follow that up with Giraffe Problems (2018) and Cat Problems (2021).
Penguin Problems was well-received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews , who said the book is "well-paced, bursting with humor, and charmingly misanthropic." [1] Jan Carr, writing for Common Sense Media, gave the book four out of five stars. [2]
Multiple praised John's writing. Booklist 's Sarah Hunter highlighted the book's "wry humor", as did Publishers Weekly, who said, "John [...] delivers a rat-a-tat series of laughs". [3] Sam Bloom, writing for Horn Book Magazine, added, "The temperature may be below freezing, but the snark level is cranked up high in this collaboration between funnymen John and Smith." [4] The New York Times's Michael Ian Black called the book "funny and acerbic". [5]
Reviewers also highlighted Smith's illustrations, which Booklist's Smith called "distinctive". [6] Publishers Weekly said the "minimalist polar landscapes highlight the penguin's awkward moments". [3] The New York Times's Black highlighted the "evocative illustrations of endless cold, frightful inky depths and the spartan beauty of Antarctic mountain peaks". [5]
School Library Journal's Joy Fleishhacker also complimented the "sublime pairing", which she says "results in a rib-tickling exploration of what it means to look at the unsunny side." [7]
Penguin Problems is a Junior Library Guild book. [8] The Irish Times named it one of the best children's books of 2016, [9] and Bank Street College of Education included it on their 2017 list of the year's best children's books. [10]
| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Kirkus Prize for Young Readers | Nominee | [8] |
| 2018-2019 | Prairie Bloom Book Award | Nominee | [8] |
| 2019 | Beehive Award | Nominee | [11] |
Lane Smith is an American illustrator and writer of children's books. He is the Kate Greenaway medalist (2017) known for his eclectic visuals and subject matter, both humorous and earnest, such as the contemplative Grandpa Green, which received a Caldecott Honor in 2012, and the outlandish Stinky Cheese Man, which received a Caldecott Honor in 1992.
Adam Gidwitz is an American author of children's books, best known for A Tale Dark and Grimm (2010), In a Glass Grimmly (2012), and The Grimm Conclusion (2013). He received a 2017 Newbery Honor for The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog (2016). In 2021, his book A Tale Dark and Grimm was adapted into an animated miniseries on Netflix.
Kwame Alexander is an American writer of poetry and children's fiction.
Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books. He won a Caldecott Honor in 2013 for his illustration of Creepy Carrots!.
Angie Thomas is an American young adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019.
As Brave As You is a young adult novel by Jason Reynolds, published May 3, 2016 by Atheneum. The book describes two African-American brothers from Brooklyn who are sent to spend the summer with their grandfather in Virginia.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America is a non-fiction book about race in the United States by the American historian Ibram X. Kendi, published April 12, 2016 by Bold Type Books, an imprint of PublicAffairs. The book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction.
Julie Berry is an American author of children's and young adults books and winner of several national book awards.
The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog is a young adult novel written by Adam Gidwitz and illuminated by Hatem Aly, published by Dutton Children's Books in 2016. It is set in medieval France and describes how three magical children meet each other and become outlaws. It was named a Newbery Honor book in 2017.
Lovely War is a young adult romance novel by Julie Berry, published March 5, 2019 by Viking Books for Young Readers. The book is a New York Times Bestseller and was well-received by critics.
Jory John is an American author of children's books. He is known for incorporating dark humor and discussing difficult topics in his books.
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Animal Problems is a children's book series by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith, and published by Random House Books for Young Readers. The series includes three books: Penguin Problems (2016), Giraffe Problems (2018), and Cat Problems (2021).
Goodnight Already! is a children's book series by American author Jory John, illustrated by Benji Davies and published by HarperCollins. The series includes four books: Goodnight Already! (2014), I Love You Already! (2015), Come Home Already! (2017), and All Right Already! (2018).
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks is a young adult novel written by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum, and published October 8, 2019 by Atheneum Books. The book is a New York Times best seller, National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist (2019), Coretta Scott King Award honor book (2020), and Carnegie Medal recipient (2021).
Lev A.C. Rosen, also known as L.C. Rosen, is an American author.
The Zoe Washington series is a series of middle grade novels by Janae Marks, consisting of the following books: From the Desk of Zoe Washington (2020) and On Air with Zoe Washington (2023). Several outlets included From the Desk of Zoe Washington in their list of the best children's books of 2020. It is also slated to be adapted into a film by Disney Branded Television.
Chris Barton is an American author of children's books. His books has been included on numerous lists citing the best children's books of the year.
Giraffe Problems is a 2018 children's book written by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith. It is a comedic picture book about a self-conscious giraffe. John and Smith also wrote Penguin Problems (2016) and Cat Problems (2021).
Cat Problems is a 2021 children's book written by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith. It is a comedic picture book about a pampered house cat. John and Smith also wrote Penguin Problems (2016) and Giraffe Problems (2018).
This knowing, witty look at penguin (and human) nature, is best for kids with an offbeat sense of humor.
"Penguin Problems," written by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith, is for all those parents whose own darling Peters and Peytons and Tylers and Tristans occasionally (and I am sure it is only very occasionally) metamorphose into that little penguin.