Heloise likes a lot of things: sledding, giving rocks to her friends, and eating fish popsicles. She does NOT like certain things, like crowds, close-talkers and huddles.
The problem is, huddles are a big part of being a penguin. Everyone gathers together to keep warm and stay safe from leopard seals. But huddles give Heloise the collywobbles! Heloise sets off to find others like her. Along the way, she meets other animals who don’t seem so friendly, and after a close brush with a leopard seal, Heloise realizes that she needs to get back to her community. Is there a way for Heloise to be a penguin and keep her personal space?
“Offers a sympathetic portrayal of a character who’s eager to maintain personal boundaries yet still wants to embrace her friends in her own way. Lugo’s gauche and coloured-pencil illustrations are handsomely rendered and darling.”
“The cheerful and engaging gouache and colored-pencil illustrations include many humorous touches…Kerbel presents the need for personal space in an entertaining tale that many children will relate to.”
“A thoughtful, gentle story of a penguin who struggles with being 'different' from her friends. It is a wonderful collaboration between Deborah Kerbel and Udayana Lugo, one that has resulted in a story that seamlessly intertwines factual information about penguin habitat and behaviour with a nuanced connection to human needs for acceptance and inclusion...No Huddles for Heloise, an honest, heartfelt story of friendship, support, acceptance and inclusiveness, will be a must-have addition to anyone’s collection. Highly recommended.”
“It's lovely to read a story about an introverted character who doesn't feel compelled to fit in with the extroverts...Deborah Kerbel validates the fullness of Heloise's life without the partying and closeness demanded or even just requested by her penguin peers [and] demonstrates an acceptance of the introverted Heloise rather than sympathy for her nature.”
“This charming animal story blends the human emotional need to have personal space with facts relating to penguins in a way that is accessible and fun. This is a fun, anthropomorphic addition to story-hour collections that promote social emotional learning in young children.”