Mr. Popper’s Penguins – Richard and Florence Atwater

“He had succeeded in removing the outer boards and part of the packing, which was a layer of dry ice, when from the depths of the packing case he suddenly heard a faint “Ork.” His heart stood still. Surely he had heard that sound before at the Drake Expedition movies. His hands were trembling so that he could scarcely lift off the last wrappings.
There was not the slightest doubt about it. It was a penguin.” (Page 17-18)

Title: Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Written by: Florence and Richard Atwater
Genre: Children’s Literature
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: 1938
Paperback: 139 pages

Mr. Popper lived a very ordinary house painter’s life until one day, he received a box from Admiral Drake himself! Inside the box, Mr. Popper discovered a penguin, a penguin which will bring fame and fortune ($5,000 a week!) to the Popper’s – if only they can get the penguin out of freezer.

I want a pet penguin.

Actually, I want a pet tiger – but that’s beside the point.

Mr. Popper’s penguins can march to music, fight for sport, and slide down three flights of stairs at a time.

It may not sound that exciting but 

PENGUINS.

I need penguins in my life after reading this book.

Everyone needs penguins in their life.

I wouldn’t mind the $5,000 a week either-but that is also beside the point.

This book is so great.

I mean: where else can you read about penguins living in a man’s freezer?

Or a man crazy enough to open all the windows in his house during December and spray water all over the floor just so his penguins (and his kids-but that is again beside the point) can ice-skate around the house?

AND

The alliterations in this book are spot on.

There is a perfect pairing of P’s from Mr. Popper and his penguins on each page.

Please don’t ask how long it took to prepare that.

The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. 

It was good – but strange.

But still good.

In summary: Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a funny, charming, alliteration filled classic for children and adults alike.

If you’re a fan of penguins – or an adult pretending not to be a fan of those flightless birds – you will fall head over beak in love with this book.

For More Information about the Book and Author Click: HERE

Age Range: 6 and up

Cautions – *WARNING: This book is so clean the following caution sheet is ridiculous, almost unnecessary, and mostly here for your viewing pleasure.*

Violence: Mentioned hunting tigers, shooting birds, how penguins gather around a hole in the ice – when they’re looking for shrimp – and push one penguin into the water to see if it gets eaten by a sea lion. (wow, that’s nice.) Penguin eats pet goldfish. Penguin spanked for eating said goldfish. 

Sensuality: Mr. and Mrs. Popper kiss. The penguins have ten babies.

Profanity: I can’t say for certain that no penguins squawked inappropriate penguin noises, but certainly no humans swore.    

Other: Bribing the service man to fix the icebox. Mr. Popper gets arrested. Penguin has a temperature of 105. There is thought that penguin might die. The Poppers’ are worried about money and if food will last through the winter. Poop is mentioned.

Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Cleanness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars