By Maria Gianferrari
Illustrated by Maris Wicks
Roaring Brook Press, 2026
40 pages
978-1-250-35737-3
Ages 5-8
Follow the journey of a puffin family on Maine’s Eastern Egg Rock Island in this joyful, appealing nonfiction picture book. Puffin mates meet, and Mother Puffin lays a single egg while Father Puffin patrols the burrow. They take turns incubating the egg, and a full-page illustration shows the puffling developing in the egg. When the puffling hatches, there’s more to do: Feeding a hungry puffling is an undertaking for both parents. Due to warming waters, large butterfish are readily available, but they’re too big for pufflings to eat. There’s also the ever-present threat of gulls, who steal food and even snatch pufflings. Despite the hazards, the puffling grows to Little Puffin, and she learns to fly and swim. Her journey to sea is shown in comic-style illustrations, followed by a gorgeous double-page spread of the water at night. With a “drop… plop… plip…” she’s off into the ocean, where she’ll join a “raft” of puffins. “For years, she will live at sea—but her body’s built for it.” Eventually, she’ll return to her birthplace to find her own mate, beginning the cycle again. The expressively illustrated puffins and use of neon orange throughout the book beautifully balance the challenging realities of puffin life. The account concludes with a page of puffin facts and insights from author and illustrator in comic-book format. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center