Justin Richardson

In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City’s Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and—thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper—hatch and raise a penguin chick. Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo “did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together,” their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, “They must be in love.” And so, when Roy and Silo show more copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it’s Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple’s second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling “Tango.” Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy. Unlike Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn’t carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way. (afterword) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)

-Kirkus Review show less

recommended for: absolutely everyone, especially kids 4-8 with same sex parents, but all kids & adults

Good grief Charlie Brown! What is all the fuss about this book, anyway?!?!!

This is a very sweet story. It’s the true tale about 2 male penguins who are a pair and how they came to tend an egg and then raise Tango, a baby penguin. This happens at the Central Park Zoo in New York City, and the illustrations really show off Central Park and the zoo; they’re beautiful and the expressions on show more the penguins’ faces are priceless.

This is a picture book for 4-8 year olds and it’s a wonderful story for kids and interesting for adults, especially since what actually happened is described more at the back of the book.

Yeah, yeah, I know some people have their reasons (beyond my understanding) to be opposed to homosexuality and that’s what the ruckus is all about. Well, as a vegan, I could tell you some very negative things about zoos. But this isn’t the place for such hysteria.

This is simply a lovely, fun, educational, heartwarming, innocent, and enjoyable book. show less

And Tango Makes Three is a great, true story about acceptance of two male penguins who found love with one another. After years of being partners and not being able to have a chick, they are gifted a egg who needs a family by one of the zoo workers. The baby is named, Tango, and the two male penguins care for her immensely. This book was amazing not only because the author addressed a huge topic in a informational way without being bias, but also because it utilized animals as the characters show more to tell the story. In the beginning of the story, the author makes it clear that the two penguins are just like any other female-male penguin couple except that they are both males. The author says that they swim together, sleep together, play together, and even try to hatch an egg, which is actually a rock, together. These actions make these two male penguins relatable and show that their love is just the same as the other penguin couples. It will help kids, and maybe even adults, understand that homosexuality is natural occurrence and that they deserve love just like anyone else! I also think it was a great idea to use animals to introduce this topic of homosexuality acceptance. Animals are very interesting to children, and often readers can relate better to lessons taught by animals because animals get rid of prejudices that people might have. A reader won't be able to judge these penguins like they might a human character. Using penguins also normalizes the idea of homosexuality because it shows that the human race isn't the only organism that has the potential to be homosexual, many animal groups have had same-sex lovers. Plus- who doesn't think penguins are adorable!? This story demonstrated a great message that love comes in all different shapes and sizes. However, as humans, we should accept people and relationships even if they aren't considered "normal". I loved this book and hope many people get the chance to experience it! show less

This fictionalized true story of two gay penguins who get to raise their own chick had me in fits of happy tears. The art is simple but sweet and fairly colorful considering the pictures are of penguins in their barren habitat. It is a beautifully told story that keeps the anthropomorphizing to a minimum and manages to be equally heartwarming and thought-provoking.