DUCK AND PENGUIN DO NOT LIKE SLEEPOVERS

Ducks, penguins, and overnights don’t mix.

Duck and Penguin don’t want to sleep in a “teeny-weeny tiny tent” outdoors. The stuffed animals are the companions of Betty and Maud, respectively. The girls love doing things together; their toys—no. Duck and Penguin dislike what their guardians get up to and dislike each other. As introduced in Duck & Penguin Are Not Friends (2019), the girls believe the toys enjoy their activities. While Betty and Maud excitedly don jammies, snuggle in sleeping bags, and luxuriate on supersoft pillows, Duck and Penguin scowl in tight onesies (Penguin wears duck PJ’s) and “drink” soda pop. The girls’ own liquid overindulgence forces a rushed bathroom trip. Duck and Penguin, alone, also dash houseward, surrounded by nighttime noises. Scared they’re being watched, they head back to the tent, the cramped space suddenly comforting. Next morning, the girls (who slept indoors) peek inside, observe the toys ensconced with the cat, and conclude they love sleepovers. The humor in this British import arises from the girls’ smiley cluelessness and the toys’ impressively effective glowers. The appealing illustrations are lively and expressive; the cat plays a pivotal role in some scenes. Betty is white and wears blue glasses. Maud is black with her hair styled in two Afro puffs. Duck and Penguin frolic on endpapers.

Young readers will awaken to the idea that sleepovers aren’t for everyone.