This is the rare picture book that gets better through repeated readings, with text and illustration details that might not come to the surface the first time out. But there’s a twist – Elliot’s father has a pet of his own. Although this is one tough secret to keep, and eventually the jig is up. Keeping Magellan a secret doesn’t seem too hard, as Elliot’s father is always preoccupied with the latest National Geographic or his academic pursuits. So much so that he decides to take one home and name it Magellan (and ode to the explorer this particular species is named after). When his seemingly inattentive father drags him to the aquarium, Elliot is mesmerized by the penguins. The story begins with a simple description of our dark-haired protagonist: With One Cool Friend, Toni Buzzeo and Caldecott-winner David Small present a child dealing with a distracted dad in a miscommunication comedy with a twist. Kids are so used to being micro-managed that the thought of being able to pull one over on the man is an appealing fantasy. Oblivious parents are a staple in children’s lit.
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