PENGUIN PICNIC

Competing picnic preferences complicate penguin partnership.

The story starts with an absorbing look at homebody Albert reading comics by a roaring fireplace, with background toys and beloved photos rendered in moody blue shadow. Enter outgoing Penny, who gloms onto Albert, proposing the two go for a picnic. Penguins scouting a snowy expanse for picnic sites already makes for a charming premise, but Walsh’s adept visuals transform every page turn into an example of cartooning at its most delightful. He makes clever use of space, from scenes that rely on contrasting background and foreground to mark distance to images of Albert and Penny trudging in the gutters between panels. This is a polar tale full of details to pore over: tiny mice populating minuscule corners of the page with their wintry activities, an icy beach party stuffed with various species clad in fetching swimwear. Predators and environmental hazards keep the flightless duo on the lookout until they lose patience with each other. In a wordless but meaningful turn, Albert’s blank glasses communicate more than any thought bubble could, leading to a breathtaking sunset of reconciliation. The picnicking pair are drawn with an abundance of body language and personality, making every interaction in their journey visually enticing.

Entertaining and accomplished; don’t let this title waddle past unnoticed.