One delightful little character is back for her second adventure, DON’T BE AFRAID, LITTLE PIP by Karma West, illustrated by Jane Chapman (McElderry Books, Simon and Schuster, 2009, $16.99 ). Learning to swim frightens our young penguin, Pip. All the young penguins are assembled at the shore and their swimming teacher, Mr. Tucks, is going to teach them how to swim properly.
Pip says she is a bird and she has wings, so she wants to fly. Learning how to fly, however, presents a variety of problems. With each attempt and subsequent failure, she learns a song. Thanks to her best friend, Merry, a near accident becomes a wonderful experience for Pip and she ends saying. “Swimming is flying!”
The artwork is magnificent. Youngster Pip really looks like a young child. Her plumage is all askew and her features reflect what one would imagine a very young penguin might resemble. Pip is expressive and and shows great fun in each spread. Any young child can easily determine Pip’s mood as she struggles to get lift-off to fly. I feel certain much laughter will accompany each reading. Loved it and I am certain kids will too.