Wednesday, September 28, 2016

PERIWINKLE'S JOURNEY by Judy Peterson-Fleming and Suzy Spafford


By: Judy Peterson-Fleming
Illustrated by: Suzy Spafford
Published by: Blue Sneaker Press
Released on: September 9th, 2016
Ages: 4 & up
Purchase from: Amazon 
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Owlets - We Loved It
I received a copy of the book from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review


Periwinkle has lived her whole life in Australia, surrounded by other blue penguins just like her. However, when she gets an invitation to her cousin Crystal’s birthday party in Antarctica, she realizes she looks different than the rest of her black-and-white cousins. With some encouragement from her mother, who tells her “it’s what’s inside that matters”, Periwinkle sets out on an adventure to Antarctica to meet the rest of her family and learns to appreciate what makes her unique along the way.

Children will want to cuddle up with the adorable animals depicted in Spafford’s full-color illustrations, from penguins to koalas to albatrosses to whales, as they read this entertaining and educational tale. Young readers will learn about the 17 types of penguins, illustrated by Periwinkle’s numerous cousins, as well as discover fun facts such as their inability to fly, penchant for rock collecting, and variety of habitats from Australia to Antarctica to the Galápagos (but not the North Pole, where the polar bears live!). Periwinkle makes many new friends on her journey to the South Pole, and along the way discovers the depths of her own bravery as well as the important truth that what makes us different also makes us special.

PERIWINKLE'S JOURNEY is simply adorable! It's cute story with beautifully illustrations, and a great message about being different and the importance of being happy with who you are. Did I mention it's cute?  After all this is a story  about a cute little blue penguin named Periwinkle (and possibly a few other penguins). 

Out of the 17 different species of Penguins that live around the world, Periwinkle is not only the smallest, she's the only one that's blue. When she receives an invitation to attend her cousins's birthday party in Antartica, Periwinkle will not only meet other family members, and new friends, you'll realize that being different is not only a wonderful thing, it's what makes her special. She doesn't need to look like her famous black and white cousins to fit in. She also realizes that her family and friends love her just the way she is. 

The wonderful thing about this book is that it's not only a great story, it's also educational. When Periwinkle goes on her journey around the globe to pick up various family members on her way to Antartica, readers get to learn about the 17 different species of penguins found through the world, and where they live. And yes, I learned something new too. Periwinkle's family is real. Not only are they smallest penguins in the world, they really are blue, and they live in Australia. 

We loved reading this story! The illustrations are as adorable as the story itself. Which didn't surprise me, because all of Suzy Stappford's illustrations are cute, and it's nearly impossible not to fall in love with Periwinkle. With it's cute story, heartwarming message, and education elements, this is one book we'd recommend adding to your own personal library. 

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~