Tacky and the Winter Games

My five year old grandson loves penguins and has a great sense of humor. These books combine those two things and he loves them! The stories are not just fluffy and silly however. They do have little life lessons to teach. They are great books for kindergartner's and first graders who are learning to read and the illustrations are complex enough to hold a child's attention.

I have five Tacky books and we go through at least 3 every time my granddaughter comes. "Tacky is a strange bird, but a nice bird to have around."

"A-huff-and-puff-and-a-huff-and-puff-and-a-huff-and-puff. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?" blared Tacky the Penguin as he came across his companions Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect." Tacky quickly learns his companions are training for the Winter games. They try to get him to work out as well and Tacky does in his own unique style. Soon the games arrive, opening ceremonies and then the events. His team handily wins the bobsledless race as they jump on Tacky and ride him to victory. But a judge calls them for riding a bobsled. Tacky tries to point out his is not one but they still get disqualified. Next is the ski jumping event with frozen fish for skies. Tacky decides to toast his toes in a cabin but unfortunately he thaws his fish. He tries to jump and lands....several times. Finally, it's the last event; speed skating. Everything is going well but when the baton is passed to Tacky; he eats it. Frustrated, his companions chase him. Tacky things it's a game of tag and races faster and faster. They win. But did they? They take him to x-ray and look for the baton. Point out the cobwebs in his head as it made my girl laugh. They eventually are declared the winner and as always: Tacky was an odd bird, but a nice bird to have around. Overall, it's a good story and well illustrated. However, I found my girl not liking this one as much.

Small simple story, excellent art work, funny...the kids love this one to the read to them and they do enjoy the rather good illustrations. I like reading this one to the class myself and probably enjoy it as much as the kids do. It is a rather off beat story featuring a rather off beat penguin - it is different. Overall, highly recommend this one.

I love Tacky the penquin. This book was great to read to my Kindergarten class during the Winter Olympics. We had a lot to talk about. Of course my children know Tacky from, "Tacky" and "Three Cheers for Tacky". These two books are at the top of my list for read alouds in my class. Classic favorites!