My Penguin Osbert: MIDI Edition

by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Book Overview

Fabulously illustrated by H. B. Lewis, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's hilarious romp through the land of be-careful-what-you-wish-for offers a whole year's worth of holiday fun magic. This year, I was very specific in my letter to Santa Claus. Each year at Christmas, Joe writes a letter to Santa. But they've had a few misunderstandings in the past. Last year, for example, Joe wanted a fire-engine-red racecar with retracting headlights, and he did get one -- but it was only three inches long. So this year Joe is really, really careful. He describes exactly what he wants -- and on Christmas morning, guess what's waiting for him under the tree Santa has brought him a living, breathing, black-and-white penguin named Osbert. Will anything in Joe's life ever be the same?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763636924
• ISBN13: 9780763636920
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.6" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A Christmas classic in our home

I got this book when my daughter was 3, and my son was 6 months. For most of the last 20 years, we read this each Advent. It sits in a place of honor now on our Christmas Books shelf. We still quote or at least paraphrase it often, especially "but I had asked for ____. And now I had one. So we ____." I highly recommend this book!

My son LOVES this book!

Despite the fact that this book has a young child writting lettrs to Santa, it is now February and we are still reading it! My son has hundreds of books and this is his favorite of all of them! We read and discuss the lessons that are learned. My little one (he is 2) now knows that he has to take care of the people and animals he loves and not always do what HE wants. We can not wait for more books by this wonderful author!

A Guaranteed Smile!

This book is just wonderful! The artwork is pleasing, as is the story. I read this book aloud to my youngest 2 children. My husband who was in the dining room, would giggle as he listened from in there. My teenage son also reacted the same way. It's a guaranteed smile!

Don't want to miss this one!!!

Here is a children's book that should be on every bookshelf!! Elizabeth Cody Kimmel tells the most charming story that incorporates a wonderful message that every child should learn! Not only is the story superb, but H.B. Lewis has done the most vivid, colorful and amazing illustrations! I could stare at them all day! Thanks to Elizabeth & H.B.!!!!!

Double Wow

It is such a treat to find a children's book that combines beautiful illustrations with a truly terrific text. I am in awe of the Author's creativity and fresh perspective on story telling.My four year old loves this story TOO. This should become a classic/

Wow!

There is so much to say about this book. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful--rich and vibrant, in the perfect shades--and the story is simple and complex at the same time. There are so many lessons here, like: you should word requests carefully so that you get exactly what you want; sometimes even when you get what you want it isn't quite what you expected; if you love someone, you should worry about his/her needs and desires as well as your own; taking care of someone else is a big responsibility. The whimsical details of a penguin's life with a boy all lend themselves to teaching these lessons. This is probably a great book for a kid who asks Santa for a pet every year, and it's also really entertaining for adults. The author could have made the story excessively sappy, but instead she gave it just the right amount of emotion--it's beautiful.