Ellen and Penguin and the New Baby [Paperback]

Clara Vulliamy (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In Ellen And The Penguin Ellen and her soft toy companion are less than enthusiastic about the arrival of a new baby brother.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K?Ellen is not sure she likes her new baby brother. As in Ellen and Penguin (Candlewick, 1993) she attributes her own feelings to her stuffed toy, allowing her to work through her jealousy more easily. Vulliamy does a good job of letting pictures tell the story. When Ellen can't sleep, for example, she walks Penguin around, patting his back. The illustration shows her mother walking and patting the baby at the same time, clearly implying that Ellen wishes her mother were holding her instead. After baby's presence ruins their fun on several occasions, Mom asks Ellen to try and cheer him up. When she uses Penguin to entertain him, he laughs and Ellen and Penguin finally agree "...that new baby brothers weren't so bad after all." Appealing watercolors help enliven the simple story. As the little girl's face shows anger or delight, Penguin's expressions also change subtly to match hers. The depictions of Ellen and her mother are less successful, as they have nearly identical faces and expressions. In one scene they look more like sisters than parent and child. Though not as engaging as Martin Waddell's When the Teddy Bears Came (Candlewick, 1995) or Jane Cutler's Darcy and Gran Don't Like Babies (Scholastic, 1993), this is a warm and pleasant picture book on a popular topic.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, OR
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 3^-5. Ellen and her stuffed animal friend, Penguin, are ambivalent about her new baby brother, who gets a lot of Mommy's attention as well as Ellen's old mobile with the woolly lambs. One day, though, the baby starts to cry, and Mommy asks Ellen to cheer him up. When Ellen and Penguin discover that they can make the baby laugh, they decide that he isn't too bad after all. It's an old story and maybe a bit more optimistic than realistic, but Vulliamy's charming watercolor illustrations give this picture book fresh appeal, particularly for children familiar with Ellen and Penguin (1993). Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076360268X
• ISBN-13: 978-0763602680
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,264,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best new sibling book ever..., December 28, 2000

By 

Michael S. Kochin "peace is my middle name" (Tel Aviv, ISRAEL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ellen and Penguin and the New Baby (Paperback)

My wife and I, and our daughter Rose, who is trying to cope with her baby sister Yael, all three of us love this book.

The illustrations are enchanting, and the story is just perfect.

Please please please come back into print.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great way for a sister to welcome a baby brother, December 4, 2001

By 

Karen Caunt (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ellen and the Penguin and the New Baby (Library Binding)

I bought this book for a friend of mine when she was expecting her second child. Her daughter is 2 and 1/2 (same age as my own daughter). Her daughter loved it so much she had it read to her every night before bed. I went back and bought one for our daughter who also loves the story. It is a very simple to understand story about a toddler girl who is not too sure about her new baby brother.