Emperor Penguin's New Clothes

Perlman (Cinderella Penguin) gleefully repopulates a Hans Christian Andersen classic with a dapper cast of birds. Antarctic ice, however, is nowhere in sight: the action devolves in a setting reminiscent of Versailles, and Perlman's penguins wear coats and powdered wigs. This formal attire heightens the impact of the finale, when the emperor appears in public au naturel, his white belly a startling sight. For her splendid pictures, Perlman applies ink and colored pencil to acetate, then backpaints each illustration; the colors stay precisely within the lines, and the images have an animation-cel smoothness and clarity. Royal purple, teal and muted brown contrast with the birds' roly-poly black-and-white bodies and bright orange beaks and feet. These neatly composed images, garnished with witty details, complement the straightfaced narrative. Ages 3-8. (Apr.)