Where Is Home, Little Pip? (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—This book invokes themes of family and home in an Arctic setting. A young penguin loves to play and explore but is constantly warned by her doting parents not to wander far. Every night they sing a song reminding her that "our home is...in our pebbly nest by the stormy sea,/where Mama and Papa and Pip makes three." (The grammatical error is unfortunate.) One day, inevitably, Pip wanders off and becomes lost. She asks the different animals that she encounters, "Where is home?" But for each creature, home is a different place. Alone and frightened in the frozen wilderness, Pip sings the song that Mama and Papa taught her, and, like a talisman, it brings them together for a joyful reunion ("Since we're together, home is right here!"). Well-structured text, genuine emotions, and beautiful full-bleed illustrations in a palette that ranges from cool whites and blues to warm pinks, corals, and tans combine to produce a wonderful story of a loving family separated and then reunited. Pair this tale with reassuring stories such as Harry Horse's Little Rabbit Lost (Peachtree, 2002), Janell Cannon's Stellaluna (Harcourt, 1993), and Martin Waddell's Owl Babies (Candlewick, 1992).—Jane Marino, Bronxville Public Library, NY
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From Booklist

Pip is a plucky baby penguin who spends her days sailing down snowy banks, snacking on fish, and being cuddled by her parents, who sing the same song each night: “Our home is where the land is free from hill or mountain, twig or tree, in our pebbly nest by the stormy sea, where Mama and Papa and Pip make three.” Yes, there are shades of And Tango Makes Three (2005), but Wilson’s story finds originality in how it ultimately handles the concept of home. Innocently chasing after a feather, Pip finds herself suddenly lost. “Where is home?” she asks a blue whale, a bird, and a sled dog; but the home each animal describes is far different than Pip’s beloved snowy tundra. When Pip’s folks finally waddle their way back into her life, they sing a new song that establishes that people, not places, make a home. Young readers will quickly identify with Pip’s separation anxiety and enjoy the happy ending. Preschool-Grade 2. --Daniel Kraus

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry; First Edition edition (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068985983X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689859830
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,247 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Read From Beginning to End, September 30, 2008

By	Marisa (Southern California) - See all my reviews

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Where is Home Little Pip? I read this to my kids just the other evening and we really enjoyed reading about Pips adventure. When we transitioned from one page to another my kids anticipated who Pip was going to meet next. At each encounter Pip was treated to a cute poem about where each creature felt home was to them. There is a slow building to a great moral in this delightful book. Pips adventure is fast becoming a staple read for bedtime. My kids ages 7 & 3 loved this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book!, September 25, 2008

By	D. Miller (Columbus,Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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"Where is Home, Little Pip?" is a delightful tale about a little boy penguin named Pip who gets lost after chasing after a feather. Trying to find his way home, he meets up with several other animals and asks "Where is Home" Each animal gives a lovely rhyme back describing their home. Pip eventually finds his Mama and Papa. This is one of the most enjoyable childrens book I have read in a long time! Very beautifully illustrated! An interesting and engaging story that will sure to be a favorite at YOUR home!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT SWEET READ FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHILDREN'S AUTHORS, August 31, 2009

By	D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have to admit to being a big Karma Wilson fan and love her bear books and the adventures of the little mouse Mortimer. While this work of the baby penguin Pip is good, it did not seem to me to have the same flair as previous works by this author. Now don't take me wrong. Had I read this one first, I would have been absolutely completely satisfied, but with knowledge of what this author is capable of, I was just a wee bit disappointed.

Pip is a little penguin living with her mother and father in a very cold place as is the nature of penguins to do. She and her parents make up a happy family and have a happy home. One day, while her parents are gone, Pip goes off chasing a feather...as is the nature of all little ones, and is lost. This is the story of her adventures in her attempt to find her home.

The author has our little lost penguin asking various critters she meets in her search where home is. Each animal tell where there home is, but not Pip's home. The author presents us with some great little rhyming answers with each encounter.

The art work by Jane Chapman is excellent and she captures the personality of the animals along with the wild desolate landscape perfectly. All of the illustrations go perfectly with the story.

This is a great read along book and would certainly be great for a child or parent reader who is into penguins. The story is sweet and mellow and easy to follow.

I am giving this one four stars rather than five as I do not feel the book is of the same quality as previous works. I must say though that this is a good read and that kids do seem to enjoy both looking at the pictures and having the story read to them.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks