Ping and Pong the Penguins

Art brings two penguins together in a story that joins the ever-growing shelf of metafictional picture books. After introducing themselves to readers, penguins Ping and Pong immediately turn on each other, indignant that they have to share a book. “Will you please get out of here!” says Ping, poking the other penguin with a wing tip. “Out of the question! Will you please get out of here!” Pong responds. Suddenly, a realistic human hand pops into the scene—and it’s holding an eraser. “You, over there!” shouts Ping. “Please erase that penguin.” (The penguins are nothing if not polite, even when they are calling for the other’s removal.) Soon, the bottom halves of both penguins have vanished, but after the unseen artist draws some art supplies for each bird, they redraw themselves and collaborate on turning the book’s plain white backgrounds into a frosty polar field of icebergs and open sea. Gangloff’s emotive cartoons capture the penguin’s best and worst instincts alike as their angry, irate sentiments give way to generosity and artistic collaboration. Simultaneously available: Rudy the Reindeer. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)