Penguins!: Strange and Wonderful

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

It is always enjoyable to read about penguins; there is something about these flightless birds that seems to appeal to humans. Perhaps it is their waddle or the black-and-white "formal dress" of the emperor and king and other penguins that draw our attention. All of these facets are clearly explained by Pringle—the black-and-white color serves as camouflage, and their short strong wings are wonderful paddles that help them soar through the water. The seventeen species are divided into six groups. Some have a feather crest, others have a band across their chests, and others have long tails. The two that were new to me are the little blue and the yellow-eyed penguins. They all however live in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins are predators but are also pray to larger animals such as leopard seals and killer whales. Different species, depending on where they live, have different mating rituals, build different nests, and work as a team to raise their young. It is only the king and emperors who do not build nests—the males tend the eggs and care for the chicks that hatch, while the mother who laid the egg struggles back to the ocean to fill up and return to care for her offspring. The males then get their chance to go and fill up after several months of fasting and braving icy winds and snowstorms. Pringle provides much in the way of interesting information, and Henderson's illustrations do clearly illustrate what appears in the text. An excellent choice for schools, libraries, and personal collections.