Product Description

Their habitat, physical characteristics, and behavior.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #393119 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 30 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-Another in the parade of books from Gibbons's busy pen and paintbrush, this one deals with those fascinating denizens of the Southern Hemisphere. The simply written, clear text describes penguin physiology, geographic location (via a color-coded map), lifestyles, and nesting/brooding habits (with an emphasis on emperor penguins). It concludes with a discussion of survival difficulties and efforts being made to protect these birds. A final page gives some statistics and drawings of the five species not shown elsewhere in the book. The full-color illustrations are sketchbook style and some children may find it difficult to differentiate among the various crested varieties, while the little blue penguin is shown as blue all over (despite assurance in the text that "All penguins have...white bellies."). The oversized format, brightly colored illustrations, and large type font result in an eye-catching appearance that will attract young researchers and the curious minded alike. Even if you already own Bobbie Kalman's Penguins (Crabtree, 1995) or Annette Barkhausen's Penguins (Gareth Stevens, 1994), you should make room for this title.
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
With her trademark directness and simplicity, Gibbons introduces those irresistibly appealing birds, the penguins. As her pen-and-ink and watercolor paintings reveal, these nonflyers share a basic body shape, but lined up alongside each other across the pages, they are seen to possess distinctive feathering that distinguishes the 17 species from each other. A color-coded map of the Southern Hemisphere pinpoints where each type of penguin resides, and depictions of the birds at sea and aboard ice floes accompany facts about their food, predators, and lifestyle. Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the emperor penguins is their brooding habit: the male guards the female's single egg in his brood pouch. After generating interest about the penguins and their lifestyles, Gibbons concludes by alerting readers to the environmental hazards that threaten the birds' well-being. Ellen Mandel

About the Author
Gail Gibbons has published close to fifty distinguished nonfiction titles with Holiday House. According to "'The Washington Post"', "'Gail Gibbons has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator."' She lives in Vermont. Her website is www.gailgibbons.com

Customer Reviews

Penguins - Another Gail Gibbons Masterpiece
As with "Whales" Gail Gibbons continues to distinguish herself as one of the premier authors of non-fiction books for the young. Graceful illustrations of every kind of penguin plus interesting and new facts for even the most seasoned adult viewers of the Discovery Channel. Large print, along with thoughtful pronunciation guides, makes it easy for younger readers. An absolute joy to read!