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Cover of Pudgy Penguins: Worst Birthday Gift Ever

Pudgy Penguins: Worst Birthday Gift Ever

by Michael Leviton

Book Details

Publisher:Random House
Published:2025-11-04
Pages:41
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

About This Book

Meet the Pudgy Penguins! In their first-ever picture book, the instantly iconic characters that became a viral sensation discover that the wrong gift can ruin a birthday—but best friends can make it right! It’s Pongo’s birthday, and the Pudgy Penguins have ordered a very special gift: a pair of balloon swords. But when Pongo opens the box . . . the swords are not made of smushy balloons at all. They are toy swords. With pointy edges. And as Pongo gleefully brandishes his new swords all over town

Our Review

This picture book brings the viral Pudgy Penguins characters to life in a relatable story about birthday disappointment and friendship. When Pongo receives dangerously pointy toy swords instead of the soft balloon swords he expected, his excitement turns into chaos as he gleefully brandishes them around their icy town. The simple conflict captures that universal childhood experience of receiving a well-intentioned but completely wrong gift, making the emotional stakes immediately understandable for young readers.

What makes this story work is how it transforms a simple mishap into a lesson about communication and caring. The penguins' journey to fix the situation demonstrates how true friends listen to each other's needs and find creative solutions. Young children will connect with both the frustration of misunderstood wishes and the warmth of friends who make things right, while parents will appreciate the gentle reminder about the importance of thoughtful gift-giving.

Themes

Juvenile Fiction

Subjects

Juvenile Fiction