{"id":7914984931565,"title":"The Penguin of Ilha Grande","handle":"the-penguin-of-ilha-grande","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/shannon-earle\"\u003eShannon Earle\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/renato-alarcao\"\u003eRenato Alarcão\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHonk!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen an oil-covered penguin washes up in Brazil, Seu João saves the penguin's life. When Dindim is finally well enough to go, his human friend says an emotional goodbye at the beach—but the penguin refuses to leave!. When he finally swims away, he returns only four months later. For seven years, Dindim the penguin lived with Seu João in Brazil for eight months a year, disappearing for four months after his annual molting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders will enjoy discovering the wildlife of Brazil while learning about the impacts of oil spills and the importance of conservation. This inspiring, true account of real and unusual friendships is sure to win the hearts of nature and animal lovers alike.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-cat-with-seven-names\"\u003eThe Cat with Seven Names\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bambino-and-mr-twain\"\u003eBambino and Mr. Twain\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/welcoming-elijah\"\u003eWelcoming Elijah\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/penguin-ilha-grande-spread.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1660330883\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShannon Earle, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShannon Earle makes time to write between teaching kids outdoors, parenting her three daughters, and preparing piles of vegetables from her family's urban homestead in Takoma Park, MD. She has visited Brazil several times, including Ilha Grande, where this story takes place. This is her first book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/shannon-earle\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Shannon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRenato Alarcão, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRenato Alarcão has been an illustrator since he was a child, logging his first paying freelance job at age nine. He has a master's degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and teaches art. Renato is the illustrator of Soccer Star, Roberto's Trip to the Top, and Finding the Music\/En pos de la música. He lives in a coastal town across the bay from Rio de Janeiro with his wife Rosa and their two sons. Renato has visited Ilha Grande a few times, and he wishes he were as good in the water as a penguin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/renato-alarcao\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Renato.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Street College of Edcation's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA true and tender tale that celebrates the lasting bond that forms between a small penguin in dire straits and the man who rescued him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne day in May, Seu João finds an oil-soaked Magellanic penguin on the beach at Praia Provetá and takes him home to clean him up. He assumes the bird won’t hesitate to return to the ocean, but even when fully recovered, Dindim, as he’s dubbed, has different ideas. The two—one a shin-high poppet clad in formal black and white in Alarcão’s pastel-hued illustrations, the other a light-skinned elder aglow with wrinkled benevolence—become constant companions…until, one hot day the following February, Dindim begins to molt and, around the time of Carnaval, doesn’t come back from his accustomed swim. But then, four months later, he waddles back out of the ocean to touch his bill to a delighted Seu João’s nose, and so continues an annual pattern that goes on for seven years. In group scenes the illustrator populates the warm and sandy Brazilian setting with multihued local children in animated poses and, though he portrays Dindim with plenty of personality, resists the temptation to anthropomorphize his feathered subject. Earle expands a closing note on the real Dindim with remarks about Magellanic penguins in general and environmental and other threats to them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn episode with a strong sense of place awash in humor and heart. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-8)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs Seu João takes his morning walk along the beach, he discovers a penguin covered in oil. He takes the bird home, cleans him up, feeds him some sardines, and eventually brings him to the ocean to release him back into the wild. Instead of swimming away, the penguin, now called Dindim, continues to follow Seu João. For seven years, the two spend many days together. This story celebrates the beautiful bond between a man and a Magellanic penguin. Playful illustrations show readers the deep friendship between Seu João and Dindim in the bright landscape of Ilha Grande. Earle weaves connections not only between man and penguin, but between them and their island and the ocean as well. Following the story, Earle includes a section about what happened to Dindim after the story's end, as well as information about Magellanic penguins, threats to their livelihood, and conservation. All in all, this is a well-crafted, heartwarming story of a man's inexplicable bond with a bird, and a great resource for a conservation study. Recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-166-8\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e10 \u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e5\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e8\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8 \u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e11\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e16\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2022-08-29T16:22:55-04:00","created_at":"2022-08-29T16:13:18-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature","Browse by Subject_Social Studies\/Cultures","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43262615748845,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"41668","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":37751302947053,"product_id":7914984931565,"position":1,"created_at":"2022-08-29T16:15:49-04:00","updated_at":"2022-08-29T16:15:51-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":489,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1661804151","variant_ids":[43262615748845]},"available":true,"name":"The Penguin of Ilha Grande - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":369,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":4,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623541668","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":30330753581293,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.227,"height":489,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1661804151"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1661804151"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1661804151","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":30330753581293,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.227,"height":489,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1661804151"},"aspect_ratio":1.227,"height":489,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1661804151","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/shannon-earle\"\u003eShannon Earle\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/renato-alarcao\"\u003eRenato Alarcão\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHonk!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen an oil-covered penguin washes up in Brazil, Seu João saves the penguin's life. When Dindim is finally well enough to go, his human friend says an emotional goodbye at the beach—but the penguin refuses to leave!. When he finally swims away, he returns only four months later. For seven years, Dindim the penguin lived with Seu João in Brazil for eight months a year, disappearing for four months after his annual molting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders will enjoy discovering the wildlife of Brazil while learning about the impacts of oil spills and the importance of conservation. This inspiring, true account of real and unusual friendships is sure to win the hearts of nature and animal lovers alike.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-cat-with-seven-names\"\u003eThe Cat with Seven Names\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bambino-and-mr-twain\"\u003eBambino and Mr. Twain\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/welcoming-elijah\"\u003eWelcoming Elijah\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/penguin-ilha-grande-spread.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover.jpg?v=1660330883\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/penguin-ilha-grande-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1660330883\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShannon Earle, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShannon Earle makes time to write between teaching kids outdoors, parenting her three daughters, and preparing piles of vegetables from her family's urban homestead in Takoma Park, MD. She has visited Brazil several times, including Ilha Grande, where this story takes place. This is her first book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/shannon-earle\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Shannon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRenato Alarcão, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRenato Alarcão has been an illustrator since he was a child, logging his first paying freelance job at age nine. He has a master's degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and teaches art. Renato is the illustrator of Soccer Star, Roberto's Trip to the Top, and Finding the Music\/En pos de la música. He lives in a coastal town across the bay from Rio de Janeiro with his wife Rosa and their two sons. Renato has visited Ilha Grande a few times, and he wishes he were as good in the water as a penguin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/renato-alarcao\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Renato.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Street College of Edcation's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA true and tender tale that celebrates the lasting bond that forms between a small penguin in dire straits and the man who rescued him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne day in May, Seu João finds an oil-soaked Magellanic penguin on the beach at Praia Provetá and takes him home to clean him up. He assumes the bird won’t hesitate to return to the ocean, but even when fully recovered, Dindim, as he’s dubbed, has different ideas. The two—one a shin-high poppet clad in formal black and white in Alarcão’s pastel-hued illustrations, the other a light-skinned elder aglow with wrinkled benevolence—become constant companions…until, one hot day the following February, Dindim begins to molt and, around the time of Carnaval, doesn’t come back from his accustomed swim. But then, four months later, he waddles back out of the ocean to touch his bill to a delighted Seu João’s nose, and so continues an annual pattern that goes on for seven years. In group scenes the illustrator populates the warm and sandy Brazilian setting with multihued local children in animated poses and, though he portrays Dindim with plenty of personality, resists the temptation to anthropomorphize his feathered subject. Earle expands a closing note on the real Dindim with remarks about Magellanic penguins in general and environmental and other threats to them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn episode with a strong sense of place awash in humor and heart. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-8)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs Seu João takes his morning walk along the beach, he discovers a penguin covered in oil. He takes the bird home, cleans him up, feeds him some sardines, and eventually brings him to the ocean to release him back into the wild. Instead of swimming away, the penguin, now called Dindim, continues to follow Seu João. For seven years, the two spend many days together. This story celebrates the beautiful bond between a man and a Magellanic penguin. Playful illustrations show readers the deep friendship between Seu João and Dindim in the bright landscape of Ilha Grande. Earle weaves connections not only between man and penguin, but between them and their island and the ocean as well. Following the story, Earle includes a section about what happened to Dindim after the story's end, as well as information about Magellanic penguins, threats to their livelihood, and conservation. All in all, this is a well-crafted, heartwarming story of a man's inexplicable bond with a bird, and a great resource for a conservation study. Recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-166-8\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4-7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e10 \u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e5\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e8\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8 \u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e11\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e16\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

The Penguin of Ilha Grande


By: Shannon Earle / Illustrated by: Renato Alarcão

Honk!

When an oil-covered penguin washes up in Brazil, Seu João saves the penguin's life. When Dindim is finally well enough to go, his human friend says an emotional goodbye at the beach—but the penguin refuses to leave!. When he finally swims away, he returns only four months later. For seven years, Dindim the penguin lived with Seu João in Brazil for eight months a year, disappearing for four months after his annual molting.

Readers will enjoy discovering the wildlife of Brazil while learning about the impacts of oil spills and the importance of conservation. This inspiring, true account of real and unusual friendships is sure to win the hearts of nature and animal lovers alike."

Maximum quantity available reached.

Shannon Earle, author

Shannon Earle makes time to write between teaching kids outdoors, parenting her three daughters, and preparing piles of vegetables from her family's urban homestead in Takoma Park, MD. She has visited Brazil several times, including Ilha Grande, where this story takes place. This is her first book.

Read more about Shannon.


Renato Alarcão, illustrator

Renato Alarcão has been an illustrator since he was a child, logging his first paying freelance job at age nine. He has a master's degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and teaches art. Renato is the illustrator of Soccer Star, Roberto's Trip to the Top, and Finding the Music/En pos de la música. He lives in a coastal town across the bay from Rio de Janeiro with his wife Rosa and their two sons. Renato has visited Ilha Grande a few times, and he wishes he were as good in the water as a penguin.

Read more about Renato.

  • Bank Street College of Edcation's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024

Kirkus Reviews

A true and tender tale that celebrates the lasting bond that forms between a small penguin in dire straits and the man who rescued him.

One day in May, Seu João finds an oil-soaked Magellanic penguin on the beach at Praia Provetá and takes him home to clean him up. He assumes the bird won’t hesitate to return to the ocean, but even when fully recovered, Dindim, as he’s dubbed, has different ideas. The two—one a shin-high poppet clad in formal black and white in Alarcão’s pastel-hued illustrations, the other a light-skinned elder aglow with wrinkled benevolence—become constant companions…until, one hot day the following February, Dindim begins to molt and, around the time of Carnaval, doesn’t come back from his accustomed swim. But then, four months later, he waddles back out of the ocean to touch his bill to a delighted Seu João’s nose, and so continues an annual pattern that goes on for seven years. In group scenes the illustrator populates the warm and sandy Brazilian setting with multihued local children in animated poses and, though he portrays Dindim with plenty of personality, resists the temptation to anthropomorphize his feathered subject. Earle expands a closing note on the real Dindim with remarks about Magellanic penguins in general and environmental and other threats to them.

An episode with a strong sense of place awash in humor and heart. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-8)

Children's Literature

As Seu João takes his morning walk along the beach, he discovers a penguin covered in oil. He takes the bird home, cleans him up, feeds him some sardines, and eventually brings him to the ocean to release him back into the wild. Instead of swimming away, the penguin, now called Dindim, continues to follow Seu João. For seven years, the two spend many days together. This story celebrates the beautiful bond between a man and a Magellanic penguin. Playful illustrations show readers the deep friendship between Seu João and Dindim in the bright landscape of Ilha Grande. Earle weaves connections not only between man and penguin, but between them and their island and the ocean as well. Following the story, Earle includes a section about what happened to Dindim after the story's end, as well as information about Magellanic penguins, threats to their livelihood, and conservation. All in all, this is a well-crafted, heartwarming story of a man's inexplicable bond with a bird, and a great resource for a conservation study. Recommended.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-166-8

Ages: 4-7
Page count: 32
10 5/8 x 8 11/16