Elliot’s father wears a dorky plaid suit and works as some sort of naturalist. He’s also pretty absentminded, so when Elliot—a quiet, rosy-cheeked boy who prefers tuxedos—brings home a Magellanic penguin, he doesn’t notice. Small’s (Elsie’s Bird) ink-and-watercolor drawings are as urbane as Elliot’s bow tie, and he creates a magnificent mansion for Elliot and his father. Elliot fixes up a bedroom ice rink with the air conditioner and hose, puts Magellan to bed in the freezer, and takes him swimming in the bathtub. Buzzeo (the Adventure Annie books) gives Elliot courtly manners (“Thank you for inviting me” is his response to his father’s suggestion they visit the aquarium) and a quick wit. The book’s humor is built on gentle misunderstandings between father and son (when Elliot asks for a penguin, his father assumes he means a stuffed one from the aquarium gift shop). Though very much a boy-and-his-pet story, it’s just as much about two gentlemen who appear to be orbiting entirely different planets. The revelation that they’re not so dissimilar after all is about as sweet as it gets. Ages 5–8. (Jan.)

The surprise ending has the same satisfying sensibility as Jules Feiffer’s Bark, George. A real kid charmer that will elicit ‘Read it again!’ responses.” (Starred) — School Library Journal

"The book’s humor is built on gentle misunderstandings between father and son (when Elliot asks for a penguin, his father assumes he means a stuffed one from the aquarium gift shop). . . A boy-and-his-pet story [that's] about as sweet as it gets." (Starred) — Publishers Weekly

"Elliot, clad in a proper black suit, discovers the perfect pet when he and his dad visit the aquarium . . . Charming illustrations [draw] the eye to funny little details . . . Highly recommended." (starred) — Library Media Connection

“This charming picture book has many humorous details throughout, and kids will likely laugh out loud at the surprise (particularly for father!) ending.” — Booklist

“Suitable for both story time and closer observation, the illustrations (including the comical Magellan) complement the child-friendly premise and will certainly attract young readers to this quirky tale.” — Horn Book

“The comic characterizations of Elliott and his father, and Small’s lively ink, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations […] will make this a popular choice for both reading aloud and reading alone.” — BCCB

“A happy tale of domestic amity, with a well-set-up punchline.” — Kirkus Reviews

2013 Caldecott Honor Book
2013 Notable Children's Book
New York Times Best Seller
Junior Library Guild Selection

The comic characterizations of Elliott and his father, and Small’s lively ink, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations […] will make this a popular choice for both reading aloud and reading alone.

Suitable for both story time and closer observation, the illustrations (including the comical Magellan) complement the child-friendly premise and will certainly attract young readers to this quirky tale.

This charming picture book has many humorous details throughout, and kids will likely laugh out loud at the surprise (particularly for father!) ending.

"Elliot, clad in a proper black suit, discovers the perfect pet when he and his dad visit the aquarium . . . Charming illustrations [draw] the eye to funny little details . . . Highly recommended." (starred)

When Elliot's father asks him if he wants to go to the aquarium, the suited and bow-tied youngster reluctantly agrees. But there he is delighted to discover penguins, "properly dressed" like him. He asks his dad if he can have one. His father agrees, giving him twenty dollars to buy what he thinks will be a stuffed toy. Instead, Elliot pops a live one in his backpack and brings it home. Naming it Magellan, Elliot provides it with a skating rink in his air-conditioned room and does some research about penguins. When his father finally discovers Magellan in the bathtub, both he and Elliot come to a surprising, happy agreement. Pen and ink, ink wash, watercolors, and colored pencils produce various size light-hearted illustrations to accompany the brief, matter-of-fact text. The up-tight youngster and his loosely academic father live comfortably parallel lives. The zoo penguins have a great time cavorting in their pool; boy and bird also enjoy their skating in the improvised frozen "old wading pool." Each scene has details and conversational exchanges set in speech balloons sure to amuse readers. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

: $16.99.PreS-Gr 2—Elliot's father often seems less than focused. So when they visit the aquarium and Elliot asks for a penguin, his father doesn't even blink as he brings one home in his backpack. Elliot gets to know his new friend, and reports on the experience to his seemingly muddle-minded father. But perhaps Dad has more in common with his son than you might suppose. This sweet and unexpected story by Toni Buzzeo (Dial, 2012) is read clearly and crisply by Chris Sorensen. No sound effects or music come between the listener and the text. The book is highly dependent on David Small's delightfully subdued watercolor illustrations, with a fun surprise ending that you literally have to see to believe, so make sure to have it available. Paired with the book, the audiobook would make a dandy listening center and bring a grin to the face of any listener.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA

Boy and Antarctic bird bond in a tongue-in-cheek tale keyed by artful misdirection. Drawn to an aquarium's penguin exhibit because the birds resemble his own tuxedo-wearing self, young Elliot secures permission from his (seemingly) distracted single dad to get a penguin. Rather than hit the gift shop, though, he pops a live one he dubs "Magellan" into his backpack. Using a hose, a backyard wading pool and an overpowered air conditioner, he sets up a rink in his bedroom. He stashes his diminutive new buddy amid frozen seafood in the fridge overnight, then leaves him splashing around in a tub of extra-cold water the next day. Crisis looms when Elliot's still strangely oblivious father heads for the bathroom--but, as observers sharp enough to have picked up some subtle visual clues will understand, Magellan isn't the only exotic animal in the house, and the old man has good reason to be more surprised than shocked to find himself sharing the tub with an interloper. In line with Buzzeo's elegantly spare text, Small uses neutral washes with loosely drawn lines and highlights of restrained color to depict the urbane lad and his equally dapper companion making themselves comfortably at home in upper-crust digs. A happy tale of domestic amity, with a well-set-up punchline. (Picture book. 6-8)