I thought I would share a new children’s book we received in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate link if you click on the link and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
Zenguin is a children’s book by Donna Smith and the pictures are by Sydney Hansen. I wish you could see the cover of the book with the Penguins on the front of the book. There is both a boy Penguin with a blue heart and a girl penguin with a pink bow in her hair and a third friend pepping out on the side of the cover.
Zenguin is brought to use by Workman Publishing. The book is for children ages 4 to 8 but I believe children and adults of all ages will love this book just as much as my family did. You will find this book inside both of our Summer Gift Guide and our Back to School Gift Guide.
The Penguin is struggling to stay calm in the inside. But his Antarctic friends teach him there ways for finding inner peace. When you open the book it’s a nice calming purple which is what my office used to be and I wish it still was this color.
We learn the little girl Penguin is his sister Pip and she is adorable. There was always something going on around his home and sometimes it made him nervous and other times it made him angry. Then one day he couldn’t take it anymore and yelled “Quiet”.
Then he remember his friends had talked about a calm they described as zen. He went to find Blue Whale to find out his he stayed calm. Penguin tried what Blue Whale does and to find out what it is you will need to read Zenguin with your friends and family.
Seal floated by and he was my very favorite animal out of all the animals in the book. Penguin asked him how he felt so peaceful and to find out what he said you will need to check out the Zenguin. Then we meet Gull and he tells Penguin how he feels zen.
The more he practiced zen the calmer he felt. Then Penguin heard a cry for help and it was Pen. Penguin helped Pip breathe calmly and it helped her. Then Pip brought Penguin a gift. This book is so easy to read that beginners readers are going to love reading it on there own.
In the back of the book is a list showing us how to Find Calm with Zenguin. Charlie and I has fun going through all the steps and trying them out which is a good way to spend time together as a family. If your homeschooling your children then you should use some of these steps to keep your students calm.
About the book:
Learn about mindfulness and calm with the help of ZENGUIN!
From New York Times bestselling illustrator Sydney Hanson and Danna Smith comes a sweet and calming picture book that helps instill life skills in young readers with basic, age-appropriate concept learning.
Penguin is anxious amidst the hustle and bustle of his busy colony. He wishes to feel calm inside, but he doesn’t know how! Thankfully, a few of his Antarctica friends teach him their strategies for finding inner peace. Before long, Penguin can use his own zen techniques to handle a stressful situation, earning him his new name—Zenguin!
“A gentle, calming story that shows young readers different ways to stay peaceful in a noisy world.” —School Library Journal
Meet the Author: Danna Smith
Growing up on her family’s rural Utah property, Danna shared her world with an extraordinary collection of animals. This untamed freedom allowed her imagination to flourish, creating stories, poems, and inventions. Her father, a falconer and dedicated animal expert, frequently brought bobcats, alligators, monkeys, hawks, and even vultures into their home, fostering Danna’s deep connection with the natural world. This early immersion in wildlife and wonder profoundly shaped her literary voice.
Today, Danna is an award-winning author who is celebrated for her engaging and educational children’s books. Her bibliography includes over twenty-five titles, such as “The Hawk of the Castle” (Candlewick), recognized as a 2018 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year, and the delightful sing-along picture book, “Rooftop Garden” (Barefoot Books). Her diverse body of work spans board books, novelty books, and Little Golden Books for the youngest audiences, as well as captivating fiction and insightful nonfiction for older readers.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
