The Emperor's Egg: Read and Wonder [Paperback]

Martin Jenkins (Author), Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Read and Wonder

Fabulous facts about nature's most devoted dad, in an utterly charming picture book.

Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. Welcome to the story of the world’s most devoted dad!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Can you imagine spending a freezing cold Antarctic winter outside, with no food for miles around--maybe even a hundred miles? This is what the male emperor penguin does. After his mate has laid her egg, she takes off for the ocean where she swims about, getting plump on squid and fish, while Papa stands around keeping the egg warm for two entire months! Martin Jenkins's remarkable picture book about an extraordinary bird is sure to be an immediate favorite with children of all ages. In a compelling example of truth being stranger than fiction, he tells the story of the unusual habits of this largest of the penguin family (there are 17 kinds!). Jenkins's enthusiastic fascination for this polar phenomenon comes through loud and clear in his changeable font sizes and humorous personal asides ("So that means two whole months with an egg on your feet and no dinner! Or breakfast or lunch or snacks. I don't know about you but I'd be very, very miserable.") Jane Chapman's fantastic, realistic illustrations of the penguins will make readers chuckle, just as they would at the zoo upon seeing the real thing. Don't miss this book--it's wonderful! (Ages 4 to 9) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

"The lively text and naturalistic acrylics of the frozen environment will attract many readers to this tale of one of nature's unique parenting arrangements, the emperor penguin," PW said. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763618713
• ISBN-13: 978-0763618711
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.2 x 9.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Birds > Nonfiction
  • #37 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Birds

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Dads to read to the Kids, November 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Emperor's Egg (Hardcover)

This nature book is wonderful as it tells of the story emperor penguin's unique habits at the kids level and in their language. At the same time there are little footnotes which answer most of the 'why' questions from the kids that arise out of the text. ( so parents appear all knowing) The illustrations are beautiful. My daughter was so enthusastic about this book the I wanted to pop on the plane to Edinburgh, Scotland and show my daughter the Emperor penguins in real life. ( I think Antartica in the middle of winter isn't an option). Nevermind, perhaps Jenkins and Chapman will write about the little blue penguins, which are in Boston, next.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem for your collection, November 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Emperor's Egg: Read and Wonder (Paperback)

I collect books specifically about the emperor penguin breeding cycle. When I choose a book, I want the emperor penguin pictures to be fairly accurate (not cartoony or wacky) as well as beautiful, vivid, elegant, etc.. And I want the writing to reflect love for the story of these penguins.

I love this book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educating and humorous, June 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Emperor's Egg (Hardcover)

What a fabulous book! I laughed out loud ... and actually learned a thing or two about Emperor penguins. A great choice for Father's Day - shows the importance of dads in bringing up little ones (penguins, in this case), which is refreshing. Makes a great read aloud for one-on-one, or in group settings, with just the right language to keep preschoolers interested while teaching them about penguins.