Tacky and the Emperor (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator) "As the sun set on the iceberg, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, Perfect, and Tacky were telling penguin jokes..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"That prince among penguins returns," noted PW. "Here Tacky gets the royal treatment after he innocently tries on the emperor penguin's clothes and the emperor penguin gets a welcome break from pomp and ceremony." Ages 4-8. (Aug)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

Tacky, the delightful penguin who marches (or is it waddles?) to a different drummer is back in another funny and charming tale-this time involving a royal visit from the emperor. When Tacky and his five iceberg-mates learn that the emperor is coming to visit, they enter into frenzied preparations. A feast of fish-flavored food is prepared, entertainment is rehearsed, and Tacky is put in charge of the balloons. But when he blows up a really big balloon, he takes an unplanned ride and ends up on a neighboring iceberg, which, unbeknownst to Tacky, is the emperor's home. Seeing a set of very fancy clothes lying unattended and unclaimed on the ice, he puts them on and waddles back to his own iceberg. To his amazement, his five friends make a huge fuss over him, plying him with food and making sure he's amused and happy. Although Tacky doesn't realize it, his friends have mistaken him for the emperor. When the real emperor arrives, the five others are mortified that there is nothing left with which to impress him, and are exasperated with Tacky. The emperor, who turns out to be sick to death of the stuffy and formal visits most of his subjects make him sit through, has a great time with Tacky and his improvisations. Instead of the fish-flavored food that the emperor is usually offered, they have snowball cones; instead of a boring dance recital, Tacky sings his favorite silly song; and they all (even his royal highness) tell penguin jokes. The watercolor illustrations are adorable and full of humor-note especially the fish-flavored ice cream, the emperor's twinkle-toed shoes, and the double-page spread on which the penguins learn about the mistake that's been made. Children will think this book is a riot and won't even realize that a message is being delivered-a charming one about the joys of non-conformity. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (September 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395981204
• ISBN-13: 978-0395981207
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #818,099 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #72 in

  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Munsinger, Lynn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tacky represents many TAG kids I know, April 29, 2005

By	J. Dannemiller (Tualatin,OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Tacky and the Emperor (Tacky the Penguin) (Paperback)

The "Tacky" series of books and many of the others written by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Messenger are fabulous examples of what TAG (Talented and Gifted) kids live through on a daily basis. They march to a different drummer! I enjoy my two "taglets" and when they laugh out loud upon reading these books, then I know they "get it"! These books are fun and enjoyable with simple messages for everyone to live by.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tacky is back, December 10, 2000

By A Customer

If you loved how Tacky tricked the hunters in his first book you will love his stint as the emeror.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining, April 8, 2005

By	K. Seals "kristinas25" (Great Falls, MT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Tacky and the Emperor (Tacky the Penguin) (Paperback)

My daycare kids love this book. I love reading it aloud. About the complaint of the song being hard to sing as long as you make it silly it works. If you read it through yourself once before reading it aloud you can make it flow. All the Tacky books are great.