Blog Tour: Review of Edward and Annie by Caryn Rivadeneira

Author: Caryn Rivadeneira

Illustrator:  Katy Tanis
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Hardcover: 32 pages

Join famous penguins, Edward and Annie, the viral sensations, as they waddle through Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium in this funny and surprising adventure story.

When no one comes to visit the aquarium, penguin pair Edward and Annie wonder, Where did everyone go? This colorful romp through Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium from author Caryn Rivadeneira takes children and their families on an adventure of wonder through the marine world. As Edward and Annie explore the unknown parts of their aquarium home and meet the other wonderfully strange creatures living there, these penguin friends discover that the world is much bigger and more interesting than they ever knew. After much excitement and many surprises, they return to the penguin habitat for the best end to any day: a cozy rest at home.
Edward and Annie teaches 4 to 8-year-olds that

• great discoveries and new friends can come from life’s biggest changes

• the best adventures start with trying something new

• a community is made of individuals who are each different, beautiful, and amazing

In this funny read-aloud picture book, children will

• meet the real-life rockhopper penguins, Edward and Annie, who made a splash on social media

• learn about the other sea animals that live at Shedd Aquarium, including Wellington the penguin and Annik the baby beluga

• have fun learning fascinating science facts during family reading time or as part of preschool and elementary STEM lessons in marine biology

• laugh at the penguins’ curious questions and silly antics

Your family will fall in love with these sweet, energetic penguins as together you discover that the world is a wonderful and surprising place–a place that is even better when explored with a friend by your side!

My Thoughts:

Edward and Annie is an adorable book about two of the real life penguins from the Lake Michigan Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.  During the 2020 pandemic shut down, the caretakers at the aquarium took these two as well as other penguins on adventures throughout the aquarium in order to provide enrichment activities and exercise.  The Shedd Aquarium has short videos of these adventures on YouTube.  I highly recommend looking for them.  They are too adorable.

In this book, we follow both Annie and Edward, as well as their caregiver Kai, as they explore and meet new friends. Throughout the adventure, Annie remarks that things are different.  Edward helps her learn that different doesn't always mean a bad thing.  Different can be exciting and fun.  At the end of the book, there is a section explaining about the real aquarium and how the animals are cared for.  The book is beautifully illustrated with colorful drawings that will give young readers a lot to look at and explore.  I highly recommend this one.  It would be a wonderful addition to any library.

About the Author and Illustrator

Caryn Rivadeneira writes stories that spark wonder, fuel curiosity, and craft worlds that help kids find their place in this one. She is the author of books for children and adults, including the Moonbeam Award–winning Helper Hounds series, Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible, Edward and Annie: A Penguin Adventure, and Saints of Feather and Fang: How the Animals We Love and Fear Connect Us to God. Caryn lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, three kids, and two rescued pit bulls.

Katy Tanis is an illustrator, explorer, and children’s book author. She lives and works at the Jersey shore. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in biology through Miami University in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society. She spends most of her days chasing deadlines but occasionally wanders to far-off places, like Madagascar, where she chases primates instead. Her work is inspired by specific ecosystems and the wonderful webs of life that they contain. She has a soft spot for the weirdos of the animal kingdom, and she’s never met a color she didn’t like.

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