The story opens in Glacier Cove, where a rock-hopping penguin, Percy, notices that Bella the Blue Whale seems upset. She tells Percy she misses her family, and he reassures her that friends can be family, too. In another chapter, Percy is afraid of sliding down a massive ice mountain, but with the encouragement of a friend, he eventually overcomes his fear. When Max the Elephant Seal finds a friend’s lost necklace and wants to keep it, Percy teaches Max about honesty. After telling the truth, Max feels “a warmth inside him that was far better than the joy of having the necklace.” At the Great Glacier Cove Meet, Edgar the Polar Bear takes issue with Sam the Skua (a predatory sea bird) being allowed to play in the games. Percy takes the opportunity to praise diversity and invites Sam to teach everyone a new game; Edgar realizes that “Our differences should be celebrated, not criticized.” Melting ice forces the animal friends to relocate the next Great Glacier Cove Meet, and in the process, they learn that change is challenging but can also lead to great new experiences. Percy also shares a golden seashell he found with a friend after learning that sharing “doesn’t mean losing something. It means multiplying the happiness it brings.” Throughout, Cherkas explains emotions in ways that youngsters will often find easy to understand. For example, Oliver the Snowy Owl compares sadness to an iceberg, stating, “There’s a whole lot more hidden beneath the surface.” He also incorporates humor, as when a penguin asks a puffin, “Why the long beak?” However, a few lessons may be a bit too abstract for children, such as “He realized that self-esteem and confidence came from believing in oneself.” Mead’s illustrations are boldly colored and balance chilly Arctic ambiance with the friends’ affectionate warmth in lively scenes.
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English (US) ·