Title: Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Author: Florence and Richard Atwater
Major Themes: Penguins, Birds, Comedy
Synopsis: Mr. Popper was delighted to have a dozen pet penguins, but what could he do to provide for his family and pets?
I believe I read Mr. Popper’s Penguins about 30 years ago. I remember enjoying it, but I never read it to my children until now. It’s a very fun story, but I came away with mixed feelings.
Publisher’s description:
Mr. Popper dreams of being an Antarctic explorer and living among the penguins alongside his hero, Admiral Drake. But as a house painter with a family to care for, Mr. Popper knows his dream is just a dream.
Until the day when Admiral Drake responds to a letter by sending a real, live penguin straight to Mr. Popper’s house!
It isn’t long before the first penguin, Captain Cook, is joined by a second penguin named Greta. Soon, the Poppers have a houseful of new penguin friends. But with a dozen penguins to feed, plus Mrs. Popper and their children, how will Mr. Popper ever make enough money to keep the whole family going, penguins and all?
But Mr. Popper and Captain Cook are nothing if not imaginative, and now it’s time for them to dream even bigger…and to take the penguin show on the road!
An unforgettable classic, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a delight for all ages, inviting readers to imagine, dream, and believe that anything is possible.
My thoughts:
As I said, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a fun story. However, I did not like the way Mr. Popper is portrayed as bumbling, and not very intelligent, while Mrs. Popper is the smart, practical one who runs the family. Her attitude toward him is that he’s a nuisance to have to clean around and she really doesn’t care if he’s going to be away for a year or two. So, while it was a fun story to read once, I don’t think I’ll be reading it aloud again.
WARNING: See the last paragraph.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9, 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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