I definitely understood the point of this story, but I don't think it was executed all that well. Some of the language seemed off to me. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for review.

An adorable, fun and creative twist on some childhood fairy tale favorites. . You remember the girl who kisses the frog prince, Cinderella and even Sleeping Beauty. Now here it is in a new and hilarious way. Phillipe knows the truth but knows that breaking that ancient code of the penguins will come at a price. Yet he still sets out on an adventure to share what he knows. This story was full of fun and adventure that kept us laughing and guessing at the secret all the way to the very end. I love how it engages children to look for the unexpected and the magic in every adventure. The colorful and bright illustrations add to the fun of this story. Your little ones are in for a magical adventure full of twists and so much fun. Enjoy the adventure together.

This book was pretty weird. I did not like it at all. It could have been cute and the art was nice, but I did not like the prince twist. Too odd.

This is a super cute book, poking fun at the classic fairly tail of princess and the frog. The illustrations were very pretty and I loved Phillips’ spirit. I also enjoyed seeing a variety of penguin types in the book. They are such a cute animal and I know children, especially penguin lovers, will enjoy this book.

Lovely story, great illustrations. My son is younger than the suggested age range but would happily sit and listen to this while looking at the pictures; older children would appreciate the twist more :)

The Secret of the Penguins: Fairytales Are Not Just for Frogs by Judith M. Ackerman is a delightful and engaging children’s book that blends whimsy and wisdom into a heartwarming narrative. Ackerman has crafted a unique story that both entertains and educates young readers, offering a charming twist on traditional fairy tales.

The plot revolves around a young scientist girl, who embarks on a journey where she encounters penguins with secrets and life lessons to share. What stands out in this book is the refreshing premise that fairy tales aren't just for frogs or typical characters, but can be enjoyed by a variety of creatures—penguins included. Basically, it a retelling of a retelling.

Author's use of colorful, imaginative illustrations adds an extra layer of charm to the story, enhancing the magical atmosphere. The book is sprinkled with playful humor, making it an enjoyable read-aloud for parents and children alike. The characters of Philippe and young girl given time to develop in this short read and girl's journey encourages curiosity and the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone.

While the book is undeniably enjoyable, some readers may find the pacing a little slow in places, particularly for children who are accustomed to faster-paced illustrated stories. The lessons and themes are valuable, but the storyline occasionally veers into predictability, making it less surprising for older readers. However, the story is still full of heart and younger audiences will likely be captivated by the magical retelling that Ackerman has built.

Overall, The Secret of the Penguins is a wonderful read for me that captured the imaginations of young readers and foster important conversations about courage, self-reliance and the power of storytelling. It’s an excellent choice for families seeking a wholesome, imaginative tale with a touch of magic and meaning for their younger ones, specially a girl child.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of The Secret of the Penguins : Fairytales are not just for Frogsby Judith M Ackerman in exchange for a honest review.This is a cute, whimsical retelling of the old fairy tale when the princess kisses the frog and he turns into a prince except this time the frog is a penguin named Philippe who is different then the other penguins but watch and see what happens when he is captured by a group of scientists..Cute story with beautiful illustrations.

The Secrets of the Penguins had a very cute story accompanied by fantastic art (though it did look a little off in places). A very clever twist on the Princess and the Frog, this book is perfect for any children who love fairy tales and/or penguins!

A complete knock off of The Princess and The Frog story’s but with a slight twist at the end and I just found it stupid.
It tried to be funny, but it wasn’t and I found myself rolling my eyes as I read it.
Not a story I’ll be sharing with my daughter - stick with the original story.

I think my son will love this book, it’s very adorable! The art is very pretty, and I like that in the beginning it shares some information about how penguins are so clean and proud. I think that was supposed to hint at them being prince-like? I thought Philippe was going to be different than the other penguins, but he was just chatty!

It felt just a little disorganized. I felt like I kept getting led to conclusions that didn’t follow through. When Philippe was said to be “different” I thought it was a story about it being ok to be yourself even if you’re different. When the author specified that Philippe was spilling Walley and Louie’s secret, I thought perhaps we were getting a cute story about a couple of gay penguins and how it’s k to be yourself. Even though it was later specified as the “secret of the penguins” being the secret, I thought it would be about acceptance in one form or another.

It felt like the explorers were marked as “evil kidnappers” and the scientists were “good guys” who treated the penguins kindly. I had to giggle at the fact that the scientists are essentially Stockholm syndrome-ing the penguins. I know no child is going to read into it like that, I’m just sharing because it made me giggle!

I love love love that the kiss that turned Philippe into a prince was a forehead kiss!!!! So sweet, so wholesome! We don’t need romance to be kisses on the lips and love can be as sweet as a forehead kiss and showing compassion when another being is sad. This is a fantastic message <3

This fairy tale is strange and different and interesting and I love it! From now on, I’ll make sure to only kiss penguins!

I was a little sad while reading the author’s note, because the book is very “girl” centric, and I’m looking for more books that are inclusive. Don’t get me wrong - the scientist being a girl is freaking awesome, and Philippe being a boy is not a -problem-
I enjoyed that the author’s note gave some more information about penguins, but I think there rather than “young girls” she could have said “young children” and included princes in the mix too!
(I did not take a star away for that, to be clear.)

Such a sweet and fun read! The pictures were adorable too. This was a great spin on The Princess and the Frog.

A delightful story! This book about Phillipe the penguin is adorable. A twist on the typical princess and the frog! The illustrations are cute too. I think this will be perfect for my 7 & 4 year old grandkids!

This is such a sweet, fun fairytale, with a delightful spin on the classic tale of the ‘Princess and the Frog’. My children were thoroughly captivated and so very surprised by the ‘secret’ revealed towards the end. The illustrations are charming and delightful. This lovely book would be a wonderful gift for any children who enjoy fairytales.

With thanks to BooksGoSocial for the digital review copy, via NetGalley. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

This was a funny little book with cute illustration. I am more inclined to kiss a penguin than a frog, that's for sure.

I was disappointed in the illustration for this book. I thought it would be a lot better. It was a cute story overall.

This book would be good for little girls. My son likes penguins and liked the pictures but didn't understand the story.
Even as an adult when I got to the end I was like hmmm that actually would make sense! Hahaha

Cute little book, and the pictures were cute. I’m sure kids would enjoy listening to it, just like any princess and the toad remake.

A cute twist on the fairytale The Princess and the Frog but with Penguins because they look more dashing/princely. I liked the message of waiting to find someone who treats you right, the story was sweet and the art was beautiful

This is the story of the princess and the frog, except that the frog is a penguin. From the title and the cover, I was not expecting this type of story.

I liked the idea behind this book but it was one that we read once and my daughter didn't want to read again and as a parent I wasn't a massive fan of the story.

It was an "ok" read. We did smile as the books talks about the look of penguins and we had to agree, they do look rather smart and dashing. The book had a twist to the story that was ok, a bit of a surprise but I much prefer the original fairytale of the princess and the frog.

The illustrations were ok, not stand out for me and that I feel will hinder people picking this over others, in what is a really saturated market for children's book.

It is 3 stars from me for this one - a twist on the normal fairytale