Don’t let this one fly right by you.

Karma Wilson is an author you love or hate. They have a signature style and do not vary from it. And like their other books, we have a story about positivity, bravery and spunk.

You cannot get away from the feeling of Happy Feet or Happy Feet 2 (the first is where a penguin wants to do the unpenguin thing and dance; the other the penguin wants to fly but then finds his wings another way) in Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip. Here Pip wants to fly, as well, but is told she cannot. Penguins do not fly. Then, why, she asks does she have wings? With plunk, determination, help from new friends and an accident, Pip learns how to not only swim (like penguins should), but fly as well.

The nice thing about the book is Pip learns to fly, but not in a traditional way. She learns how to fly by being a penguin (who do not fly in the sky but while swimming). Pip learns she can be the penguin she wants to be yet is still a traditional penguin. That concept of “you can do anything” is a bit misleading. After all, if you tell a child they can do anything then they try to jump off rocks to fly, they might not have a friend like Pip had who was able to save her. This book shows that it is okay to be a penguin.

The illustrations are delightfully colorful and detailed. Jane Chapman also has a signature art style. And it is obvious here. They are pop-off-the-page colors. There are the perfect details. As well as the perfect mix of realism and fantastical and abstract.