About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the push and pull of independence or feeling like their current world is a bit too small. It is a perfect choice for kids who are testing their wings, sometimes literally, and may need a gentle reminder that wanting to explore the world is natural, but having a safe place to land is equally important. The story follows a penguin who dreams of flying and leaves his best friend to join the circus, only to realize that the applause of a crowd is no substitute for the devoted support of a true friend. It is a whimsical, deeply resonant look at the value of loyalty and the bittersweet nature of growing up and branching out. Parents will appreciate the humor and the visual storytelling that captures the quiet ache of missing someone, while celebrating the joy of a safe return.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
Parents should be aware of the emotional intensity during the central conflict. The penguin experiences a moment of acute fear and loneliness while mid-air, realizing the danger of his situation, while the boy’s desperate search for his friend may be distressing for sensitive children who fear separation or abandonment.
Ideal Reader
A preschooler or early elementary student who is starting to value their independence but still struggles with the fear of being truly alone. It is also excellent for children who have experienced a 'best friend breakup' or a period of distance from a loved one.
Parent Prep
While no historical or complex social context is needed, parents should be ready to discuss the characters' feelings of fear and the importance of communication when wanting to try something new. The minimalist illustrations convey much of the emotional weight, so be prepared to pause and look at the characters' expressions. A child expressing a desire to do something dangerous or 'impossible,' or a child who hides their plans because they feel misunderstood.
Age Experience
Younger children (3-4) will focus on the slapstick humor of the circus and the physical action of the rescue. Older children (5-7) will better grasp the subtext of the penguin's internal conflict and the boy's quiet devotion.
What Makes It Special
Jeffers uses negative space and a signature minimalist aesthetic to evoke profound 'big feelings' without over-explaining, making the emotional payoff feel earned rather than forced.
Read plot summary
In this sequel to Lost and Found, the boy and the penguin are inseparable until the penguin decides he must learn to fly. Despite the boy's insistence that penguins are not built for flight, the penguin responds to a circus advertisement for a 'human cannonball' (or rather, a bird-shaped one). He leaves secretly, finds success in the spotlight, but realizes in mid-air that he is terrified and alone. The boy, meanwhile, has been desperately searching for his friend. They reunite just in time for the boy to catch the penguin, proving that while the penguin couldn't fly, their friendship could soar.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think the penguin didn't tell the boy he was leaving to join the circus?
2
The boy told the penguin that penguins can't fly. Was he being mean, or was he just being honest? How could he have said it differently?
3
When the penguin was up in the air, he realized he wasn't happy. Why did he change his mind about wanting to fly in that moment?
4
How did the boy show the penguin that he still cared about him even after the penguin ran away?
