Penguin Problems is a 2016 Children's picture book by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith. It is about a penguin that complains about his situation. They would later follow that up with Giraffe Problems (2018) and Cat Problems (2021).
Reception
Penguin Problems was well-received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who said the book is "well-paced, bursting with humor, and charmingly misanthropic."[1] Jan Carr, writing for Common Sense Media, gave the book four out of five stars.[2]
Multiple praised John's writing. Booklist's Sarah Hunter highlighted the book's "wry humor", as did Publishers Weekly, who said, "John [...] delivers a rat-a-tat series of laughs".[3] Sam Bloom, writing for Horn Book Magazine, added, "The temperature may be below freezing, but the snark level is cranked up high in this collaboration between funnymen John and Smith."[4]The New York Times's Michael Ian Black called the book "funny and acerbic".[5]
Reviewers also highlighted Smith's illustrations, which Booklist's Smith called "distinctive".[6]Publishers Weekly said the "minimalist polar landscapes highlight the penguin's awkward moments".[3]The New York Times's Black highlighted the "evocative illustrations of endless cold, frightful inky depths and the spartan beauty of Antarctic mountain peaks".[5]
School Library Journal's Joy Fleishhacker also complimented the "sublime pairing", which she says "results in a rib-tickling exploration of what it means to look at the unsunny side."[7]
^"Penguin Problems". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
^Carr, Jan. "Penguin Problems Book Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-09-11. This knowing, witty look at penguin (and human) nature, is best for kids with an offbeat sense of humor.
^ abBlack, Michael Ian (2016-11-11). "Is Life Fair? Four Picture Books Say No". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2021-12-26. "Penguin Problems," written by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith, is for all those parents whose own darling Peters and Peytons and Tylers and Tristans occasionally (and I am sure it is only very occasionally) metamorphose into that little penguin.
