Review Detail

THE ADVENTURES OF PENGUIN AND PANDA: WINTERFEST is a charming new early graphic novel of this adorable duo. In this book, Penguin and Panda are celebrating the holiday season, buying a Christmas tree, trying new things in the snow, picking out holiday sweaters, and more.

What I loved: These collections of stories are perfect for early elementary school aged readers, as they contain themes that will really resonate. For instance, in the first story, they find the perfect Christmas tree together, but it is too expensive for them. They work to earn the money to buy it, but then they realize that they cannot both have the tree. This causes a minor argument until they decide that the best use of the tree is to share it with the town. The story addresses themes of generosity, kindness, friendship, argument resolution/compromise, hard work, and working together. The second story delves into fear and other themes that will also strike a note for the intended audience.

Penguin and Panda are easy to like and share a great friendship. The continuity of the characters across books is great, and their personalities easily shine through the stories. Having recognizable characters is great for young readers who can spot familiar faces as they explore the text.

The illustrations throughout are fantastic with plenty of color and holiday backdrops. The font is easy to read, with letters in all caps to help with flow for early independent readers. The dialogue also uses repeating words and simple sentences that are great for readers just starting out. Another great thing for young readers is that the dialogue bubbles are colored in addition to leading to the character speaking, to aid in reading comprehension and making the story easier to follow. Having the book be four separate stories is also great, so it is easy to find a stopping place when readers get tired. Fun facts in the backmatter give some educational content and extend the fun as well.

Final verdict: THE ADVENTURES OF PENGUIN AND PANDA: WINTERFEST is a charming early graphic novel that early elementary school aged children will love! With relevant themes and holiday-themed stories, this book is one they can really sink their teeth into.