by Richard and Florence Atwater
Flap Copy description:
Mr. Popper's Penguins is one of the handful of American books for children that has attained the status of a classic. First published in 1938, the story of a house painter who is sent a male penguin by the Great Admiral Drake, and who, thanks to the arrival of a female penguin, soon has twelve penguins living in the house, has amused and enchanted generations of children and their parents.
My thoughts:
Mr. Popper's obsession with Antarctica is both funny and educational. This chapter book for young readers won a Newbery Honor Award in 1939. However, the subject matter would not hold the interest of most middle grade readers, in my opinion. Mr. Popper's Penguins would be great to read to children a few chapters at a time in a classroom setting; or as a bedtime story for youngsters.
(I read this classic several months ago and hesitated posting it since my review was a rather weak "thumbs up." However, Mr. Popper's Penguins was recently made into a movie, starring Jim Carrey, and was released in the U.S. last Friday, June 17th. Consequently I felt now would be a great time to share this book with you - and the movie trailer looks hysterical!)
