Penguins Strange and Wonderful [Hardcover]

Laurence Pringle (Author), Meryl Henderson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

There are seventeen species of penguin. They come in all sizes, from the little blue penguin that stands about sixteen inches high to the emperor penguin that stands almost four feet tall. Some penguins are named for how they look, such as the black-footed penguin, while others are named for where they live, such as the Galapagos penguin. Laurence Pringle's fascinating and informative book, with stunning illustrations by Meryl Henderson, introduces young readers to the life and behavior of one of nature's most remarkable birds.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–5—This attractive picture book will satisfy report writers and browsers alike. Pringle describes how the "strange geese" were first sighted by Portuguese explorers off the coast of South America in 1520 and concludes with current concerns about global warming and pollution. In between is a wealth of information, from pooping to parenting, presented in an engaging, accessible narrative. Readers will be surprised to learn that there are 17 species of this flightless bird, the popular emperor in Antarctica being only one of many. "You probably did not think of the little blue penguin, which stands just sixteen inches tall. This smallest of all penguins lives along the coasts of southern Australia and southern New Zealand. It hops ashore into green forests, not snow and ice." The lifelike watercolor illustrations portray the subject with full spreads and boxed paintings accompanied by short, descriptive captions. Landscapes show the birds hunting squid, tobogganing on their bellies, and huddling to protect their eggs, while dramatic close-ups reveal the stiff spines in the mouth of a Rockhopper, two males fighting, a couple courting, and a poor "Macaroni penguin tangled in a fishing net." A map and chart show where the different species live. Sandra Markle's Growing Up Wild: Penguins (S & S, 2002) is of comparable difficulty and contains striking photographs, but deals only with the Adélie species. Libraries will want to own both titles.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Penguins remain a perennial favorite of children, and there is no shortage of informational books about these remarkable, appealing birds. While most titles focus on the penguins of Antarctica, this installment in the Strange and Wonderful series highlights the diversity among the habitats, physical traits, and behaviors of the 17 amazingly adaptable species. Pringle's succinct text provides an engaging overview of penguin life, from the bird's supreme agility in the water to its extraordinary efforts to raise hatchlings, and it is filled with enough interesting facts that even penguin fans will find out something new. Henderson's realistic paintings vary between double-page spreads of penguins in their diverse Southern Hemisphere environments and finely detailed insets that echo the text. The final pages address the disastrous impact of water pollution, overfishing, and global warming on penguin populations and offer a list of Web sites where readers can find further information on penguins and their conservation. Kristen McKulski
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590780906
• ISBN-13: 978-1590780909
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,066,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two enthusiastic thumbs up from The Penguin Lady!, June 4, 2008

By 

Dyan deNapoli "The Penguin Lady" (Boston's North Shore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Penguins Strange and Wonderful (Hardcover)

I cannot say enough good things about this book! After working as a senior penguin aquarist at the New England Aquarium in Boston for many years, I started my own educational company ([...]) providing on-site programs about penguin biology, behavior and conservation for kids and adults of all ages. When giving grade-school programs, I send out a 'Penguin Packet' beforehand, containing carefully selected books, to help prepare the students for my visit.

I recently stumbled upon Mr. Pringle's book in the library. This is truly the best researched, best written and most beautifully illustrated book about penguins I have ever come across and, believe me, I've read LOTS of books about penguins. (I was even the expert content reviewer for three children's books about penguins.) I am proud to now have this exceptional book as part of my educational packet.

I was so excited about this book that I even wrote to the author telling him how fantastic I thought it was. And Meryl Henderson's penguin illustrations are truly the most beautiful, accurate and engaging that I've ever seen. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. If you want THE superlative penguin book for children, I strongly encourage you to buy this one!