Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme [Hardcover]

Bruce McMillan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 1995 | Age Level: 2 and up

In this unusual and entertaining book, young readers visit puffins who live at the top of the earth in Iceland and penguins who live at the bottom of the earth in Antarctica. An exploration of language as well as an introduction to these two special birds, Bruce McMillan’s playful book will inspire children to observe, to compare, and to name the simple but spectacular events of the natural world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Master photo-essayist McMillan finds fetching fun in a few feathered friends as he pairs likenesses of two avian species with rhyming, two-word captions. Inhabiting literally opposite ends of the earth, puffins (from the North Polar region) and penguins (native to Antarctica) share an endearing gawkiness, and McMillan's unadorned, crystalline photographs capture surprising humor and personality in the simplest of situations. Spreads alternate between the two varieties, presenting both single subjects and groups in representative activities-"Puffins walk. Puffins squawk. Penguins brawl. Penguins call." The black-and-white birds' orange-toned beaks and feet lend intense splashes of color to the stark backgrounds-gray sea and rocks, clear blue skies, green grass. Though technically not of a feather, these birds flock together to provide an inviting nature study. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1?Through extraordinary photography, McMillan compares and contrasts the habits and habitats of the puffins of Iceland and the penguins of Antarctica. Each page of this stunning book holds oversized, full-color close-ups that exhibit, among other things, the birds flying, standing, grooming themselves, greeting one another, eating, and caring for their young. Large, oversized black type runs along the bottom of each page proclaiming, in minimalist verse, things like "Puffins land" and "Puffins stand," "Penguins nest" and "penguins rest." While books on puffins and penguins abound, the pairing of the two species here makes for a winner. An excellent introduction to the worlds of these two birds and to a discussion of their environments.?Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (March 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152003622
• ISBN-13: 978-0152003623
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #625,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding photography and facts about penguins and puffins, October 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme (Hardcover)

This is one of the best factual books about animals I have seen for young children. The photographs are outstanding, and the rhyme scheme is perfect for the youngest child. However, there is enough new and interesting information to intrigue older children -- and even the adult who gets to read it over and over again! If you thought you knew the differences between puffins and penguins, you need to read this book with your kids!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Penguins "flee"?!? a review of "Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme", May 7, 2009

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme (Paperback)

I happen to be a fan of Puffins and Penguins, but I still can't recommend this book except as a "Library Find."

My first complaint with it is the unexciting text**:

Puffins glare,
Penguins stare

And second, I thought the pictures were not all that engaging. Particularly the Penguins, who came across as crabby and ill-tempered.

**Other combinations of rhyme are clean/preen, hide/glide, see/flee. It didn't appeal much to me and the my home-audience just wandered on after a brief look-see.

Considerations:::
I've investigated and found different age recommendations for this book--everything from Preschool to 5th grade. Personally I would go with the younger ranges. While the Accelerated Reading level for the book is a generic "2", there isn't really enough text to be worth reading for older children.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer for BooksforKids-reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars good for educational purposes, October 17, 2008

By 

Robertson Thomas (Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, South Korea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Puffins Climb, Penguins Rhyme (Paperback)

An English teacher could use this book as an example of the third person plural.

The book is in a simple pattern: two sentences consisting of "Puffins" followed by a one-syllable verb, then two sentences consisting of "Penguins" followed by a one-syllable verb. Because of its simplicity, I frequently use this book when instructing my Korean English students about verbs.

I have many students who are musically talented. So I make up a song consisting of eighth note couplets followed by quarter notes.