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Summary
Summary
Opus the penguin makes a Christmas wish that he might fly.
Author Notes
Berkeley Breathed is an American cartoonist, children's book author/illustrator, director, and screenwriter, best known for Bloom County, a 1980s cartoon-comic strip. Bloom County earned Berkeley the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1987. He replaced the Bloom County strip with the surreal Sunday-only cartoon, Outland in 1989, which featured some of the Bloom County characters. Eight years later, Berkeley began producing the comic strip, Opus, a Sunday-only strip featuring Opus the Penguin.
In addition to his cartoon work, he has also produced seven children's books, two of which, A Wish for Wings That Work and Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big, were made into animated films. Berkeley's writing has also been featured in numerous publications, including Life, Boating, and Travel and Leisure.
Berkeley lives with his family in Southern California.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Opus, penguin star of Breathed's ``Bloom County'' comic strip, possesses a simple, childlike soul--no wonder, then, that young readers find him appealing. What does prove surprising is that, in his first book for children, Breathed achieves just the right balance of sweetness and levity. This is definitely not an adult book thinly disguised as a children's book, but a work that little ones will love for its own magic and logic, and for Opus's final, well-deserved triumph. It's Christmastime, and Opus, wearing his customary red bow tie and his seasonal red cap, bemoans the fact that he is a bird that can't fly: ``I might as well have been born a snail. Or a slice of melba toast.'' He sends a heartfelt letter to Santa, and on Christmas Eve, Opus gets a chance to earn his wings. The deliciously satisfying conclusion perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas, and Breathed's art is an entrancing mix of comic-book sketchiness and full-color, full-blown scenes that rival the very best of Disney. Not many books fit the bill as treats for ``children of all ages,'' but this one could top the list. All ages. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Opus has moved off the newspaper pages and into a picture book. The story is uninspired: Opus, a penguin, wishes to be able to fly, but learns to be satisfied with himself when he saves Santa's sleigh from sinking. The author depends on readers being familiar with his characters, and his humor is more adult than juvenile. The full-page color illustrations lack the liveliness of his cartoons. From HORN BOOK 1991, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The creator of the popular Bloom County comic strip takes up the well-worn theme of an animal who helps Santa. Opus is a penguin who longs to fly, but it's his swimming strength that makes him a hero after Santa's sleigh falls in a lake after the harness breaks. Reward: Santa's praise plus a ride aloft, borne by his friends the snow ducks. Nothing new here, but the story is told with competence and energy; the lavish mixed-media illustrations (airbrush smooth, cartoon style) have plenty of witty details. (Picture book. 4-8)
Booklist Review
Ages 4-8. The creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip Bloom County plunges into picture books with this glossy venture, billed somewhat optimistically as a book "for all ages." Breathed plucks at the heartstrings of his audience by focusing on Opus, Bloom County's sad-sack penguin, who, in this Christmas yarn, desperately wants to fly. Using small black-and-white cartoons and full-page color spreads that literally suck readers into their dramatic depth, he follows Opus' endeavors to soar through the air like the snow ducks. But even though Opus becomes a hero, saving Santa from an unexpected dunk in the ocean, he never acquires wings that flap. As a reward for his courage, however, he does indeed fly--though not in the way he'd planned. The wry freshness Breathed usually displays in his strip is wanting here. Even the richly colored paintings and rendering of expressive, lovable Opus won't save the well-worn plot as far as Bloom County fans are concerned. It will be children who've never met the little penguin who'll be the book's best audience. And while they may not entirely grasp the message Breathed wishes to impart, they'll enjoy their first encounter with the comic-strip star. ~--Stephanie Zvirin