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Turtle's Penguin Day
After his Daddy reads a book about penguins, a young turtle decides to spend his day at kindergarten sliding on his belly, waddling, and playing pass-the-egg.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2008
About the author
Valeri Gorbachev
101 books20 followersValeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.
(from harpercollins.com)
(from harpercollins.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
July 20, 2020
One thing: it's so darn relatable!
When I was a kid, I wanted to be everything! One day I hear about pilots, I wanted to become one. Some other day if it's teachers, I wanted to become one! If it's a news anchor, I wanted to become one too! And this little turtle getting hugely influenced by the stories of other animals when stories about them are told by his father as bedtime stories. I know people will feel like the turtle tried to become a penguin when it should accept its own identity. Come on! It's a storybook telling how we easily get influenced when we were kids that's it.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be everything! One day I hear about pilots, I wanted to become one. Some other day if it's teachers, I wanted to become one! If it's a news anchor, I wanted to become one too! And this little turtle getting hugely influenced by the stories of other animals when stories about them are told by his father as bedtime stories. I know people will feel like the turtle tried to become a penguin when it should accept its own identity. Come on! It's a storybook telling how we easily get influenced when we were kids that's it.
March 7, 2024
کتاب را نشر چشمه با ترجمه شیوا حریری به اسم روزی که لاک پشت پنگوئن شد چاپ کرده است.
امان از این تصویرسازی های زیبا که با دیدنش روح آدم شاد می‌شود و مطمئنا برای بچه‌ها هم بسیار جذاب است
لاک پشت کوچولو کتابی در مورد پنگوئن ها میخواند و اینگونه فردا روز پنگوئن شدن هست
امان از این تصویرسازی های زیبا که با دیدنش روح آدم شاد می‌شود و مطمئنا برای بچه‌ها هم بسیار جذاب است
لاک پشت کوچولو کتابی در مورد پنگوئن ها میخواند و اینگونه فردا روز پنگوئن شدن هست
June 4, 2012
After Little Turtle’s father reads him a bedtime story about penguins, Little Turtle falls asleep and dreams that he’s a penguin. The next morning he decides to be a penguin for the day, so he waddles into a pair of red slippers and drapes an old black coat over his head and arms. At school his classmates are intrigued, so Little Turtle points out all the reasons he loves penguins. “We want to be penguins too!” And so Little Turtle and his friends have a penguin day at school, full of waddling, sliding, and penguin dreams at naptime. That night at bedtime, Father Turtle reads a new book about monkeys. Guess what Little Turtle decides to be when he wakes up in the morning?
The watercolor illustrations create a colorful, finely detailed world. The characters are wide-eyed and friendly, reminiscent of those in a Richard Scarry book. I love that Little Turtle’s classmates don’t tease him for wearing an old coat over his head, instead they are curious and welcoming. The text, half description and half dialogue, incorporates general information about penguins, but never pulls the focus away from Little Turtle’s story. Gorbachev includes a list of penguin facts at the back of the book.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
The watercolor illustrations create a colorful, finely detailed world. The characters are wide-eyed and friendly, reminiscent of those in a Richard Scarry book. I love that Little Turtle’s classmates don’t tease him for wearing an old coat over his head, instead they are curious and welcoming. The text, half description and half dialogue, incorporates general information about penguins, but never pulls the focus away from Little Turtle’s story. Gorbachev includes a list of penguin facts at the back of the book.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
January 9, 2021
Cute, imaginative, & informative book 😊
April 2, 2011
A very cute story about a child's (or in this case a turtle's) imagination. Father Turtle reads a book about penguins to Little Turtle. When Little Turtle falls asleep he dreams he is a penguin. The next morning he wants to dress as a penguin and act like a penguin. Fortunately, he has a supportive teacher (Ms. Dog - aren't dogs great?) and friends. Soon all the other animals in the class are having a ball acting like penguins. Even at bedtime, Little Turtle is still pretending he is a penguin. And then Father Turtle reads him another bedtime story - about monkeys! The illustrations in this book are wonderful. They capture the joy of a child's imagination, the closeness of parent and child, and the love of friends. Terrific book.
February 1, 2012
With a title like this, how could I not love this book? Little Turtle's father reads him a book about penguins so the next day for school he decides to be a penguin. The other students look his costume and his teacher is very interested in the book on penguins that Little Turtle brought to school. The whole class decides to have a penguin day which is just a lot of fun. The book has a small section at the end with facts on penguins for children who want to learn more. Gorbachev captures the desire to be another character perfectly and readers will be delighted to find someone else who shares this passion.
September 23, 2012
Little Turtle becomes very interested in penguins after his father reads him a book about them. At school, Little Turtle dresses up as a penguin and gets his whole class involved. Its illustrations and characters appeal to younger children, especially those interested in animals. The book includes a list of facts about penguins, which opens the door for teaching about penguins and other Antarctic creatures. Children will enjoy the illustrations and easy-to-follow story, and may even want to waddle around like a penguin like Little Turtle.
January 5, 2017
2 stars.. it was ok. True Fans of penguins would like this ode to the imagination, but I found it nothing special compared to all the other books with the same theme. Drawings are basic sketchy cartoons a la' Richard Scarry.
February 9, 2018
Gorbachev, Valeri Turtle's Penguin Day. Knopf Rrandom House), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.
Little Turtle loved his bedtime story about turtles. At school the next day, his turtle costume intrigues the other children and they spend a day practicing their turtle best. What will the next day hold? Well, tonight's story is all about monkeys!
An absolutely adorable picture book that celebrates the imagination and enthusiasm of the young.
EL - ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
Little Turtle loved his bedtime story about turtles. At school the next day, his turtle costume intrigues the other children and they spend a day practicing their turtle best. What will the next day hold? Well, tonight's story is all about monkeys!
An absolutely adorable picture book that celebrates the imagination and enthusiasm of the young.
EL - ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
December 5, 2017
This is a very sweet book about a young turtle who loves penguins so much that he wants to dress up as one for school. The reader gets nervous that the turtle will be made fun of, but instead all his classmates begin to get excited about turtles as well. With adorable illustrations that highlight the turtles joy about learning, this book is perfect to show young children that learning can be a lot of fun if you embrace it.
May 24, 2018
Recommended read aloud for ages 6-8 by Minnesota State University. I loved this one. Little turtle is read a bedtime tale about penguins. He then dreams of being a penguin and decides to act like one at school, and gets all his friends to join in. What will his father read about next? A delightful tale about the power of the written word and our imaginations. Probably best 1st grade and below.
December 29, 2022
Loved Turtle's Penguin Day! Cute story about an imaginative turtle who dreams about being a penguin. I like that he got to have fun with his love for penguins by dressing up and having a penguin day at school!
March 24, 2017
Turtle goes through a day being a penquin. This idea comes from a bedtime story told to him by his father. A very cute story.
September 18, 2017
A turtle who wants to be a penguin for a day because of a story his dad told him.
January 5, 2018
This one wasn't bad, it just didn't really appeal to me personally. Also, it felt a little 'off' to me.
February 23, 2018
Very cute
February 8, 2019
Super cute story about a little turtle that loves to pretend, and a class that gets in the spirit, and a teacher that doesn't mind getting into it either.
August 31, 2020
I really love the storyline in this book. I guess the story and the pictures remind me of books I would read as a kid. My 11 month old isn't too interested for now, but he enjoys the pictures.
October 7, 2020
I liked how one kids obsession was embraced by the other kids and the teacher.
August 15, 2022
Learn about penguins through a turtle’s pretend play.
April 8, 2024
A delightful tale with adorable pictures. Tot and I both enjoyed it.
September 22, 2024
It was a good book.
June 29, 2010
A turtle and penguins? Being that these are two of my favorite animals, I had to check this out when I saw it on the recommended picture books list for the library summer reading program. The story was too old for Natalie at this time, but I still read it aloud to her. I liked how there wasn't too much text (It sometimes bothers me when a picture books has tons of text). I also liked how the story had a nice predictable structure. It followed the course of 24 hours, there were groups of three things, and the ending mirrored the beginning. These are great structures for a children's book to have. I liked the illustrations. Basic info on penguins was embedded into the story, but there was also a list of facts at the end of the book. My favorite fact was that the largest penguins can be 90 lbs! Holy crap! The smallest are about 2 lbs. After reading that I'm a little afraid of some penguins, but want a tiny one.
March 15, 2015
TURTLE IS SO excited by the book about penguins that his dad reads him at bedtime that he decides he wants to be a penguin. So the next morning, he creates a penguin costume, grabs his book, and heads for the schoolbus. His kindergarten classmates are thrilled. They all want to be penguins too! Turtle shows his book to his teacher, and all day long he and his classmates do as the penguins do—they slide down the slide on their bellies during recess, form a waddling conga line at music time, and snack on goldfish crackers. It’s a super-cool penguin day. Turtle thinks he’d like to be a penguin every day. But, that night, his dad has a new book to read—and this one is all about monkeys!
This delightful picture book from Valeri Gorbachev celebrates both the power of books, and the joys of imaginative play in all its dress-up-box glory. And, with the extra penguin facts at the end of the book, this is a perfect blueprint for teachers planning penguin days of their own.
This delightful picture book from Valeri Gorbachev celebrates both the power of books, and the joys of imaginative play in all its dress-up-box glory. And, with the extra penguin facts at the end of the book, this is a perfect blueprint for teachers planning penguin days of their own.
Read
July 31, 2018When Father Turtle reads Little Turtle a book about penguins one night Little Turtle dreams of penguins and comes up with an idea. He wants to be a penguin for a day! In the morning he dresses up as a penguin and goes to school. Little Turtle shows the class his penguin book and shows the way penguins do things. The class practices being penguins by sliding on their bellies and waddling. They have a great day learning about penguins. When Little Turtle comes home from school he continues to be a penguin, eating fish crackers for dinner and diving into bed. That night Father Turtle reads a book to Little Turtle about monkeys. What animal do you think Little Turtle is going to be next?
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:809047/ada?qu=turtle%27s+penguin+day&lm=VPD
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library:
https://catalog.swanlibraries.net/client/en_US/vpd/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:809047/ada?qu=turtle%27s+penguin+day&lm=VPD
October 27, 2013
Turtle's Penguin Day
Story and IIlustrations By Valeri Gorbachev
Grade Levels: App. 1-3
DRA/Lexile Measure/GLE: n/a
Reviewed By Aaron Carter
Turtle's Penguin Day is about a turtle who wants to become a penguin after his feather read him a book about the creatures, and then subsequently dreamed about them. The next morning Little Turtle dresses and moves to mimic a penguin, which continues into the school day. His fellow students likewise want to become penguins, so the teacher makes it "penguin day." That evening Father Turtle reads a story about monkeys to Little Turtle and, as you can guess, he dreams about monkeys. Because of the book's storyline, it would a great choice for use when teaching predictions, or for teaching fluency, as there's extensive commentary to practice prosody. Most sentences are simple in structure, though there are some compound ones, too.
Story and IIlustrations By Valeri Gorbachev
Grade Levels: App. 1-3
DRA/Lexile Measure/GLE: n/a
Reviewed By Aaron Carter
Turtle's Penguin Day is about a turtle who wants to become a penguin after his feather read him a book about the creatures, and then subsequently dreamed about them. The next morning Little Turtle dresses and moves to mimic a penguin, which continues into the school day. His fellow students likewise want to become penguins, so the teacher makes it "penguin day." That evening Father Turtle reads a story about monkeys to Little Turtle and, as you can guess, he dreams about monkeys. Because of the book's storyline, it would a great choice for use when teaching predictions, or for teaching fluency, as there's extensive commentary to practice prosody. Most sentences are simple in structure, though there are some compound ones, too.
November 21, 2014
This is an entertaining story about an imaginative turtle who inspires his whole class to learn more about (and act like) penguins. The author also includes some fun facts about penguins at the end of the book.
The narrative is short and the illustratons are colorful and cartoonish and remind me of Brenda Clark's illustrations in the Franklin the Turtle series.
I discovered this fun little story while perusing the stacks of the children's section of our local library. I decided to read it right there in the library, since our girls would consider it far too 'babyish' for them. I think it would be a terrific book to read aloud with children in Kindergarten - 2nd grade.
The narrative is short and the illustratons are colorful and cartoonish and remind me of Brenda Clark's illustrations in the Franklin the Turtle series.
I discovered this fun little story while perusing the stacks of the children's section of our local library. I decided to read it right there in the library, since our girls would consider it far too 'babyish' for them. I think it would be a terrific book to read aloud with children in Kindergarten - 2nd grade.
Read
July 22, 2015If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings (flap, flap)
If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings
If you're a puffin and you know it and you really want to show it
If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings
Other verses:
...waddle your feet (waddle, waddle)
...bite a fish (bite, bite)
A penguin, when he goes somewhere waddle from side to side
Will walk or swim; here's why: waddle first, then swim
Although he has two bird-like wings, hold up two fingers
He simply cannot fly! Tuck hands into armpits and "flap" wings
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a little penguin,
Black and white.
Short and wobbly,
An adorable sight. I can't fly at all,
but I love to swim.
So I'll waddle to the water
And dive right in!
If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings
If you're a puffin and you know it and you really want to show it
If you're a puffin and you know it, flap your wings
Other verses:
...waddle your feet (waddle, waddle)
...bite a fish (bite, bite)
A penguin, when he goes somewhere waddle from side to side
Will walk or swim; here's why: waddle first, then swim
Although he has two bird-like wings, hold up two fingers
He simply cannot fly! Tuck hands into armpits and "flap" wings
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a little penguin,
Black and white.
Short and wobbly,
An adorable sight. I can't fly at all,
but I love to swim.
So I'll waddle to the water
And dive right in!
May 20, 2011
Ok, the premise of a turtle wanting to be a penguin was a little hard to conceptualize, but once I got there I was thrilled by how enthusiastic he was about penguins specifically and learning in general. This little turtle has an inquisitive nature and his curiosity and that of his classmates (all different kinds of animals) was really refreshing. I was worried they'd make fun of him when he dressed up as a penguin and started imitating them, but everyone joined in! He goes on to study monkeys next. Amusing (still a little weird), and awesome!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2014
3.75 I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I am all for imagination and dress up but when people (like Skippy Jon Jones) what to be something they aren't and never can be...that bothers me...but this book isn't like that.
It all starts out when dad (Father Turtle) reads a book about penguins. To little turtle and he runs with it!
I like that the whole class joins in on the penguin day...and what I like even more is at the end....we move on to Monkey Day! Why can't I give is a 5, I like the pictures but I don't love the...all in all still a good book!
It all starts out when dad (Father Turtle) reads a book about penguins. To little turtle and he runs with it!
I like that the whole class joins in on the penguin day...and what I like even more is at the end....we move on to Monkey Day! Why can't I give is a 5, I like the pictures but I don't love the...all in all still a good book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews