Tony Baloney: Buddy Trouble

K-Gr 2—With a smiling beak, a book in one hand, and a his stuffed animal in backpack, Tony Baloney—a macaroni penguin—makes an exciting entrance. The plot is simple: Tony and Bob are excited about the "Books and Buddies" evening at their elementary school. According to their teacher, this will be an evening in the Everything Room (altered to look and feel like a campground), and the students should bring a blanket, and favorite stuffed animal or doll. Tony will bring Dandelion (another penguin species), and Bob will bring his turtle Pedro. Difficulty comes with Tony and his sister cleaning up the house while Mom is at playgroup with the babies. Tony and his big sister cannot clean up without arguing, and Momma and Poppa take away the treat of "Books and Buddies." The illustrations are done with digital media, and the bright colors, happy expressions, and realistic family life make this title a winner. Some of the text is a little dense, and there are several pages with speech bubbles that require a little deciphering by new readers. Overall, this is a wonderful new title about a penguin, his pet, and their adventures.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City