Book Review: Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester and Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Tacky the Penguin is a charming story about a Hawaiian shirt-wearing penguin who doesn't quite fit in with his polite and proper companions. Where they swim gracefully, Tacky jumps in with a cannonball. Where they sing beautiful songs, he squawks loud, tacky songs like "How Many Toes Does a Fish Have?" But Tacky's different style actually saves the day when hunters looking for pretty perfect penguins to trap and sell find Tacky instead.

Lynn Munsinger's bright illustrations add layers to the story told by Helen Lester. One of the things I found most enjoyable about this story is despite the potential for making Tacky a despised outcast, the illustrations show the other penguins treating Tacky with a bemused tolerance, and they continue to spend time with him. As for Tacky himself, he is always smiling and seems to be blissfully unaware of how his antics disrupt others. His earnest nature shines through, and no one ever seems truly upset with him.

Helen Lester tells her story with an engaging rhythm that small children will love. The sentences are short and several phrases keep popping up (like "Tacky was an odd bird") that kids will love to read over and over. There are even two short songs, encouraging children to make up music and sing along.

But Tacky the Penguin's real charm lies in its message that individuality has its own advantages. Anyone who has ever marched 1-2-3, 4-2, 3-6-0, 2 1/2, 0 will recognize Tacky's unburdened comfort with being himself.

Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. ISBN 0-395-45536-7. 32 pages. Copyright 1988.