No Huddles for Heloise

PreS-Gr 1–Heloise the penguin loves many things about her life on ice at the bottom of the world, like fish pops and her beloved rock collection. But there are things she also does not like. All of Heloise’s penguin pals like to huddle for warmth and comfort, but Heloise prefers her personal space. And when the other penguins inevitably stop inviting her to join them, Heloise attempts to find a new place to live where her needs and community are better aligned. This charming animal story blends the human emotional need to have personal space with facts relating to penguins in a way that is accessible and fun. Heloise and her companions are often seen wearing clothing and participating in human activities, though they are also depicted swimming and otherwise behaving as penguins. The juxtaposition of human and animal characteristics serves to connect readers to penguins while also honoring very real human feelings. Designed to be read aloud, this book incorporates short narrative phrases alongside speech from the penguins themselves, making the book dynamic in its delivery. Together, the images and words are easy to see and absorb in a large group setting, and children will likely recognize themselves or someone they know in the pages of this book.