A fun and colourful picture book that will hopefully not give young children any ideas!
Feature image credit: Allen & Unwin
Australian author Ursula Dubosarsky has written over 60 books for children and young adults. She is the recipient of several national literary awards and for 2020-2021, she was the Australian Children’s Laureate. Christopher Neilsen is an author/illustrator who lives in Sydney and has been shortlisted for the CBCA Award for new illustrators.
Together they have created a lovely story about a young girl who has a very problematic best friend named Ethel. Ethel also happens to be a penguin from the Antarctic. Her family have moved in next door. Ethel likes to do her own thing and rules really don’t mean much to her.
Ethel the Penguin is brightly illustrated and full of detail. The pictures clearly show a penguin who does not have a fear in the world, while being surrounded by family, friends and teachers who are horrified at what she gets up to. The expressions on the faces of her family and friends are usually looks of horror. Readers may also notice the inclusion of two other bird species well known for their bad behaviour. A lovely little side story is also told in the end papers. The occasional highlighted words in a larger font and different colours add to the telling.
Each page has four lines of rhyming text, which enables early readers to guess what the final word might be. Ethel the Penguin could have done with a bit more editing as there are some clumsy sentences. And capital letters are not necessary at the beginning of every line if the sentence is continuing. Early writers may find this confusing.
However, it is a narrative that will make the young people laugh, but hopefully NOT try these things at home!!
Reviewed by Sue Mauger
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Allen & Unwin
Released: October 2024
RRP: $19.99
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