Hello, friends! Our book today is Plume: World Explorer by Tania McCartney, a globe-trotting tale of exploration, curiosity, and adventure with an extra-adorable protagonist.

In the wilds of Antarctica lives a penguin named Plume – a very different sort of penguin, that is. While his penguin pals are content to the black and white landscape of their icy home, Plume has an insatiable curiosity to learn new hobbies, to experience new things, and to read new books. Through his books and visits with his package-courier pal Ava the albatross, Plume discovers new parts of the world that fascinate and invigorate him – if only he could fly to visit them like Ava does. One day, Plume makes a decision: he will no longer leave the exploring to others. This sets him off on a journey to far-flung locations to experience local foods, unique cultures, and new friends.

Absolutely delightful. With a combination of adorable illustrations, engaging text, and a fantastic message about curiosity and global community, this lovely little title takes readers on a journey just as edifying and enriching as Plume’s. McCartney’s illustrations are simply wonderful, creating appealing characters and gorgeous textures, especially in the scenes where Plume visits international locales. The story itself is wonderfully layered; part geography and culture lesson, part ode to the inquisitive mind, and part emphasis on the importance of diversity, readers can experience a richness of themes over an entertaining tale. A pronunciation guide may have helped in the backmatter, but other than that, this one is near-perfect in concept and execution. The length is great for elementary-aged bookworms, and JJ absolutely loved it. This one is a must-read for any young explorer, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)