Sunday, December 13, 2009

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell










And Tango Makes Three

Authors: Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

Illustrator: Henry Cole

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Date of Publication: 2005

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 32 Pages

Cost: $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-689-87845-9

Reading Level: Preschool-Grade 3


Plot Summary: And Tango Makes Three tells the true story of two male, chinstrap penguins named Roy and Silo, who live at the Central Park Zoo. Roy and Silo do everything together, and one year when it comes time for the penguins to mate they build a nest of stones for themselves just like all of the other penguin couples. The zookeeper notices this, and, thinking that the penguins must be in love, he gives them a fertilized egg that needs to be cared for. Roy and Silo take care of the egg together until it hatches into a baby penguin named Tango. Roy, Silo, and Tango make up a wonderful family that is special because it is unlike any of the others at the zoo.


Evaluation: This book is a beautifully written and illustrated, true story about an unconventional penguin family at the Central Park Zoo. It deals with the relationship between Roy and Silo in an honest but age-appropriate manner. This book contains an important lesson not just on accepting differences but also on appreciating unconventional families in all of their varied, equally beautiful forms. In addition to having great value as a stand-alone picture book, it could also be recommended to a child for bibliotherapy purposes or incorporated into a classroom unit on tolerance.


Reader’s Annotation: What will happen when an observant zookeeper at New York City’s Central Park Zoo gives two male penguins an egg to hatch and raise together?


Links:

An Educator’s Guide to And Tango Makes Three

And Tango Makes Three Lesson Plan


Related Reads:

The Different Dragon by Jennifer Bryan

King and King by Linda de Haan

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen

Mommy, Mama, and Me by Leslea Newman

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