About Penguins: A Guide for Children

When many people think about penguins, they think there is only one kind, but in reality there are seventeen. One interesting fact is that they all "live in the southern half of the world." They all swim in the ocean and when they do their slim wings help guide them through the water. They have "waterproof feathers" that keep them from freezing to death. They dive into the water to catch their food supply which primarily consists of "fish, squid, and crustaceans." When they are in the water they are graceful and fast, but on land they have a distinctive way of moving around. On land is where they raise their families. Nesting habits vary from one type to another. For example, the Yellow-eyed Penguin nests in wooded areas while the Chinstrap Penguin gathers stones together on the top of the ground to lay her eggs. Each bird has to work very hard to keep predators at bay because their eggs are considered to be quite a treat. In this book you will learn many things about the penguin from their physical characteristics, how they raise their young to laws that protect them. Any person who is fascinated by this bird will enjoy exploring these pages! This is a book that can be read by the beginning reader or the confident reader. In the main text of the book each plate is accompanied by a sentence or two talking about the penguins. For example plate nine depicts the Erect-crested Penguin accompanied by the sentence, "They come to land to lay eggs and raise chicks." In the back of the book there are thumbnail reproductions of each of the eighteen plates and more information about penguin life. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and are the type that would make excellent prints. In the back of the book is a glossary and additional recommended book and website resources. This is one is a series that is well worth considering for any homeschool, classroom or library shelf!