The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin [Hardcover]

John Burns (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: San Francisco Story Works; First edition (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977422704
• ISBN-13: 978-0977422708
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A charming tale, sure to capture the reader's hearts from the very first page., November 5, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin (Hardcover)

"The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin" is a delightfully entertaining novel for readers age 5 to 95. Pengey is an inquisitive, orphaned young emperor penguin, who is rescued from the brink of death near an abandoned weather station. Courage, curiosity, and plucky determination all power his penguin heart, and he speaks his mind openly; soon, all his talents will be tested to the utmost for the sake of not only himself, but also his animal and human friends. A charming tale, sure to capture the reader's hearts from the very first page.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lesssons in Love and Courage, August 10, 2009

By 

Kate "Katie" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin (Hardcover)

My grandchildren find this their favorite chapter book. They never tire of cuddling up with Grandma and Pengey.

In part, the attraction to this story is the wholesome hero's journey at its core, because Pengey,although greatly disadvantaged by his tiny stature and enormous challenges he faces, remains intelligent, humble, polite, and undaunted by his troubles.

We learn from the simple tenacity of Pengey Penguin that success does not come in a lump sum ,but that added together increments of small successes make even the toughest goal achievable.

Some of the most amazing things about this story are that it reveals its wisdoms effortlessly, without a hint of preachy-ness. It is refreshing by way of the new characters and clever personalities that populate the story. It's exciting and funny by way of Pengey's varied adventures; some of which are hair raising and others that are simply hilarious. And it's lastly adorable by way of one of the greatest children's characters you'll ever meet. Pengey Penguin is simply a charismatic wonder.

And so, what we have is a book that is a marvelous fairy tale. It reflects the trials and tribulations of life through the eyes and experiences of an extremely responsible little boy portrayed as an orphaned baby penguin. All Pengey wants to do is find his way back to that place that we are all most loved, a place called home.


While I read this book, I thought of someone back in the 1930's who did something similar with a cartoon character he created. Both he and the author of Pengey Penguin did something unique in the world of storytelling...--they created a wholesome character that is, without a shadow of a doubt, worth caring about. Perhaps author, John Burns is the next Walt Disney.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Art of Storytelling at it very best", May 21, 2006

By 

Clarissa Beaufort (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin (Hardcover)

Not since I was a little girl in Paris, reading Collodi's masterpiece, have I fallen so in love with a fairy tale character.
Not since "Pinocchio" have I found a fairy tale so complete, so inspiring and so well developed as "Pengey's Many Adventures."

Pengey, I must admit has stolen my heart. His story is beset with so much trouble: abandonment, attacks by other animals
and evil humans. But Pengey is undaunted by his troubles. He always takes time to, ponder his options, especially when he's confused.
Pengey's always polite and because he is so well mannered he manages quite well in the world of humans.

He has one true goal, to find his way back to that place where he knows he is loved. Back to the woman that saves him from starvation.

It takes friends and Pengey finds a Parrot and a Puffin that become the best friends anyone could ever want.

Still, even as a team, it's a effort to overcome all of the obstacles and hardships, as mother nature seems to be conspiring against Pengey too.

I'll never give away the ending. But I'll never forget it, as I sat in bed with my copy of Pengey, and crying my eyes out with tears of
joy and happiness. This has just got to be the best children's chapter book in 20 years. Go Pengey, Go!