Antarctic Antics

Subtitled "A Book of Penguin Poems," this ALA Carnegie Medal award-winner, based on the 1998 book written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey, offers a winsome collection of poems set to a wacky musical score by Scotty Huff and Robert Reynolds. Highlights include "Regurgitate" (an ode to mother-baby feeding), "I'm Looking for My Mother" (a cute tune about that special sound mom makes that distinguishes her from a dozen identical looking penguins), and "Be My Penguin" (a Presley/Orbison type love ballad, sporting such delicious rhymed couplets as "the curve of your beak/makes my flippers grow weak"). While the full-motion animation is, to be honest, rather lackluster, this playful look at penguin colony life on Antarctica is a sharply written, foot-tappin' joy that should appeal to viewers young and old. Enthusiastically recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)