Where were you when you read the book?
This has been a bedtime story favourite for Eden since I picked it out from the ‘Best books for 3 year olds‘ list.
While she did pick it out for a few day time reads, Eden was usually tucked up in bed with her Bluey teddy tucked under her arm, ready to drift off to a lovely night’s sleep.
What did you / your child enjoy about the book?
Blue Penguin is a story about being different and friendship, and Eden really seemed to engage with both of these themes. Obviously it took some explaining after a read or two, but she soon started telling me how ‘Blue Penguin isn’t like the other penguins’, ‘The penguins are being mean to Blue Penguin’, and ‘They are friends now’.
The tone of the story was very relaxed and calming which worked wonders before bed. By the time I reached the final pages, I would often look across to see her battling to keep her eyes open. I think the colour palette of the illustrations helped, too.
Any Surprises / Feedback?
I was surprised by how well Eden engaged with the illustrations. They’re quite grainy – intentionally, it’s not poor printing – and so I didn’t expect her to engage with them as well as she did. She really spent time looking at each page, and loved pointing out the different things.
On a rating out of 5, how likely would you recommend it to other parents?
4 out of 5. I personally loved it. It has great messaging and themes that kids are aware of and can understand. I can understand that the illustrations might not be to everyone's taste, so that might put some off.