The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Buzzeo, Toni

One Cool Friend

32 pp. | Dial | January, 2012 | Trade ISBN 978-0-8037-3413-5 $16.99

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Small. When his father takes him to the aquarium, Eliot heads for the penguins, then takes one home in his backpack. As the illustrations reveal, the whole scenario works because Eliot's father is so focused on his own obsession with turtles that he is humorously oblivious--until the surprise ending--to what Eliot is doing. Buzzeo has crafted a droll narrative; Small's illustrations complement the child-friendly premise.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012