Waiting for Mama
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling illustrator Gianna Marino reveals the enduring importance of family in a picture book perfect for Mother's Day and Father's Day!
"When everyone is sleeping, all I can hear is Papa's heart. Boom-Boom-Boom. My papa loves me."
It's deep winter in the Antarctic and a little penguin baby waits in the cold and snow for its mama to return from her long journey to find food. But all the while, the baby is protected and kept warm by its papa, until Mama returns with food . . . and love.
With stunning illustrations and a spare but powerful story, Gianna Marino captures the icy beauty of Antarctica and the wonders of a penguin family that thrives there.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An emperor penguin chick narrates this educational polar tale by Marino, which showcases the heroic efforts undertaken by penguin parents—especially the intrepid females—to support their young. "Even though I can't see,/ I know what's happening outside./ I can feel it,/ like I can feel/ the cold," voices the soon-to-be-hatchling from a pale green egg perched on its father's feet. After noting its mama's unique goodbye call as she departs to find sustenance, the chick goes on to describe its surroundings via sound: the "CRUNCH" of the ice, the "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!" of papa's heart, and a final "CRAAACK!" of the egg shell, just in time for an exuberant family reunion. Pale pinks and blues predominate in Marino's landscapes, contrasting with the book's sleek black-and-white protagonists, often dramatically captured in group scenes. Anthropomorphic narration lends a tenderhearted feel to the scientific information communicated about penguin family dynamics. A note on emperor penguins concludes. Ages 3–7.
