One Cool Friend [Hardcover]

Toni Buzzeo (Author), David Small (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: January 10, 2012 | Age Range: 5 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 620L (What's this?)

When well-mannered Elliot reluctantly visits the aquarium with his distractible father, he politely asks whether he can have a penguin--and then removes one from the penguin pool to his backpack. The fun of caring for a penguin in a New England Victorian house is followed by a surprise revelation by Elliot's father.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Polite, bow-tie-and-suit-wearing Elliot is none too excited when his father suggests attending Family Fun Day at the aquarium. But once he is there, he is drawn to the Magellanic penguins, whose tidy black feather tuxedos with their proper posture remind Elliot of himself. So he decides to sneak one home in his backpack, under his father’s seemingly oblivious eye. Once home, Elliot and his new penguin pal dine on frozen anchovy pizzas, share Goldfish crackers, and skate on a mini ice rink in his room (created with a wading pool and hose)—all the while his father is blithely engaged with his atlas, maps, and charts and appears not to notice the goings-on. Small’s black-and-white line illustrations with pops of soft color are an artful blend of elegance, wit, and whimsy. They echo and complement the text and depict expressive characters, including the playful penguin. This charming picture book has many humorous details throughout, and kids will likely laugh out loud at the surprise ending—particularly for the father! Grades K-3. --Shelle Rosenfeld

Review

STARRED REVIEW "The book's humor is built on gentle misunderstandings between father and son (when Elliot asks for a penguin, his father assumes he means a stuffed one from the aquarium gift shop). . . The revelation that they're not so dissimilar after all is about as sweet as it gets. " Publisher's Weekly, 10-31-11

STARRED REVIEW "A real kid charmer that will elicit "Read it again!" responses." School Library Journal 2-1-12

"In line with Buzzeo's elegantly spare text, Small uses neutral washes with loosely drawn lines and highlights of restrained color to depict the urbane lad and his equally dapper companion making themselves comfortably at home in upper-crust digs.  A happy tale of domestic amity, with a well-set-up punchline." Kirkus 12-1-11

"Small's black-and-white line illustrations with pops of soft color are an artful blend of elegance, wit, and whimsy. They echo and complement the text and depict expressive characters, including the playful penguin." Booklist 1-1-12

"The comic characterizations of Elliott and his father, and Small's lively ink, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations--especially those featuring the penguin (he skates with flair and looks adorable in a bike helmet en route to the library)--will make this a popular choice for both reading aloud and reading alone." BCCB 2-12

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; First Edition edition (January 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803734131
• ISBN-13: 978-0803734135
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 0.5 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pets
  • #15 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Birds
  • #93 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Friendship

More About the Author

Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS, is an author as well as a career library media specialist. She writes picture books for children as well as many professional books and articles and lives on a colonial farm in Maine. Learn more at her website: www.tonibuzzeo.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful every single time you read it January 11, 2012

By Nancy Werlin

Format:Hardcover

Upon first reading, you'll think the boy-and-his-pet story at the heart of the delightful ONE COOL FRIEND is driven by gentle misunderstandings between Eliot and his father -- only to get egg on your face at the last page turn. David Small's witty illustrations are a perfect match with Toni Buzzeo's deceptively straightforward text, and the two together usher the reader right down the garden path to the warm and hilarious ending. Both the text and illustrations contain "Easter eggs" that reward multiple re-readings, so this one will entertain again and again and again." (Starred review) ~ Nancy Werlin

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One more penguin book you must have January 10, 2012

By Marci

Format:Hardcover

Every school has the "school-wide unit", and in elementary schools in January, that nearly always involves penguins. Let's face it, aquariums, movies and sea/ocean parks have worked relentlessly to make penguins a part of every child's psyche. So, it isn't difficult to imagine that a boy would want a penguin as his personal pet. And when Elliot, a very proper, tuxedo-clad young man, visits the aquarium with his rather distracted father, it is no surprise he finds Magellanic penguins fit him to a "T".

After that, however, surprises, giggles and delight abound. Permission from his unsuspecting father allows Elliot to perpetrate a penguin popping adventure: into the backpack; a bedroom skating-rink; a library research visit; a mid-night freezer caper and a dip in the tub. While we fear that discovery awaits our heroes, we are not disappointed with this ending that is a discovery for us as well.

David Small's ink and watercolor illustrations compliment this quirky story with imaginative and humorous detail. And, in the end, they help us understand how much Elliot and his father have in common.

So, if your school does a Penguin Unit, or if you are driven to provide wonderful literature for your students on topics they love, this is really the must-have book this January.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY cool friend indeed ! January 25, 2012

By Booktoo

Format:Hardcover

One Cool Friend (Hardcover) Elliot and his father have a lot in common. Author Toni Buzzeo writes how they enjoy spending time at the local aquarium. David Small indicates through his whimsical illustrations that both are avid readers and independent thinkers.
In this imaginative story the speech bubbles cleverly advance the conversation between father and son. We follow Elliot, the proper young man, as he problem solves his friendship with his "one cool friend."
I love the David Small artwork with his minimal use of color, offbeat perspectives, especially the inventive facial expressions. This book could be used with an Explorers Unit, Geography, familial relationships, Habitats and a study of pets. [Which animals make the best pets and why !!!]
Toni Buzzeo and David Small together...what an energetic and creative team!