Penguins Love Their ABC’s

The six penguins from Penguins Love Colors return to go on an alphabet hunt, “but did the little penguins even know all the letters of the alphabet?” asks Aspinall. “Do you know?” The penguins’ mother places objects corresponding to each letter in the snow, and Aspinall’s high-energy cartoons show the penguins goofing around with each of them, often in extreme close-up. Questions for readers (“Which color flower do you like best?”) and commentary from the young penguins (“Wheeeeeeee!” shouts Violet, rolling down a hill inside the subject of “t is for tire”) break up the recitation of letters and objects, while dialing up the story’s exuberance. The objects themselves will be familiar to many young children (jump rope, key, lock) and the book’s unflagging energy should make for raucous read-alouds. Ages 3–5. (Aug.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misspelled the author's last name.