Penguin Problems

Penguin Problems was well-received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who said the book is "well-paced, bursting with humor, and charmingly misanthropic."^[1] Jan Carr, writing for Common Sense Media, gave the book four out of five stars.^[2]

Multiple praised John's writing. Booklist's Sarah Hunter highlighted the book's "wry humor", as did Publishers Weekly, who said, "John [...] delivers a rat-a-tat series of laughs".^[3] Sam Bloom, writing for Horn Book Magazine, added, "The temperature may be below freezing, but the snark level is cranked up high in this collaboration between funnymen John and Smith."^[4] The New York Times's Michael Ian Black called the book "funny and acerbic".^[5]

Reviewers also highlighted Smith's illustrations, which Booklist's Smith called "distinctive".^[6] Publishers Weekly said the "minimalist polar landscapes highlight the penguin's awkward moments".^[3] The New York Times's Black highlighted the "evocative illustrations of endless cold, frightful inky depths and the spartan beauty of Antarctic mountain peaks".^[5]

School Library Journal's Joy Fleishhacker also complimented the "sublime pairing", which she says "results in a rib-tickling exploration of what it means to look at the unsunny side."^[7]

Penguin Problems is a Junior Library Guild book.^[8] The Irish Times named it one of the best children's books of 2016,^[9] and Bank Street College of Education included it on their 2017 list of the year's best children's books.^[10]