Penguins

So, the special request week ends. Please keep in mind these themes are, by no means, exhaustive. Penguins are very popular and many more resources await, but I only have one week to focus on them.

Since it is summer, we will focus on a subject that seems to arise for three months starting in June. We will have a sequel week. Sequel weeks will focus on the sequels of items I have already reviewed. So relax and see how the stories continue.

Bobby Burns and Walter Stull
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/prints/pr07317.jpg

Club Penguin

http://www.clubpenguin.com/


Plot: The site provides an online interaction experience for elementary students and tweens. Thanks to strict controls (and cute penguin avatars) the users' identities are well-protected as visitors explore, play games, and participate in online activities.

Genre: Websites, Social Networks, Penguins

Reading Level: Aimed at 6-14 year-olds.

Similar Titles: This is tricky, since most other social networks (Facebook and MySpace) tend to be aimed at adults.

Personal Thoughts: While children's online interactions must be carefully monitored, this appears to be a fairly safe method of introducing kids to social networks. Their identities are kept fairly secret and interactions can be expanded or limited via parental controls.

To receive various additions to the site (for example, costumes or items) additional fees are required.

This site has sparked the development of various items, such as trading cards, plush toys, and video games.

Penguin Life: Surviving with Style in the South Atlantic

Rouse, Andy. Penguin Life: Surviving with Style in the South Atlantic. Cincinnati : David & Charles, 2007.

Plot: This photo-heavy book follows the natural history of king, gentoo, rockhopper, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins. Such history includes the habitats, lifestyles, courtship, and social interaction the penguins experience. A short, but very pretty book.

Genre: Penguins, Animals, Photographs

Reading Level: Aimed at adults, but the captions are not especially complex, so younger readers may enjoy the book as well.

Similar Titles: Polar Obsession, Penguins!, The Nature of Penguins

Personal Thoughts: Probably what most would call a gift or coffee table book, the work focuses more on photographs rather than text. Nevertheless, it provides good information about penguins and environmental concerns without being preachy or tawdry. 

Antarctic Wildlife Adventure

Antarctic Wildlife Adventure produced by National Geographic.


Plot: The documentary follows a family of five on their yearly trek to Antarctica. They document the various wildlife they encounter, including several species of penguins. The continent, they claim, is the last truly wild frontier. However, the pristine land of ice is being breached by the very scientists studying it. Additionally, fears of exploitation haunt the land. The family continues its studies, but with a wary eye on the future.

Genre: Documentary, Penguins

Reading Level: Not rated, but most elementary through middle school students will probably enjoy it.

Similar Titles: Life in the Freezer, March of the Penguins, Encounters at the End of the World

Personal Thoughts: The documentary reminded me of many I saw during science class in school. The film was dated (it was made in 1991) and the music even more so. Despite this, the information was accurate, and it introduced concepts such as biological surveys in a simple but not condescending manner. Also, unlike more recent films (such as March of the Penguins), the film really gave a sense of the enormity of Antarctica, both physically and historically.

One major complaint, though. Throughout the documentary, the narrator and scientists praise Antarctica as a scientific frontier, but continuously complain about the growing number of studies taking place. Perhaps I am taking this too seriously, but the statements seem contradictory.

Still, the documentary is amusing while remaining informative.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Atwater, Richard; Atwater, Florence; and Lawson, Robert. Mr. Popper's Penguins. Boston : Little, Brown and Co., 1938.


Plot: While Mr. Popper works as a painter, he dreams of being an explorer, particularly in Antarctica. After sending a letter to his hero, Mr. Popper receives an unexpected and wonderful gift - a real, live penguin from the South Pole. The penguin, later named Captain Cook, transforms the Poppers' household. After Greta, a female penguin, arrives, the number of penguins unexpectedly grows to twelve. Yet, the Poppers cannot afford to feed and cool so many Arctic birds. After much consideration, the Poppers wonder if the antics of the penguins themselves may solve the problem. Much to the surprise of many, they do!

Genre: Animals, Penguins

Reading Level: Apparently aimed at ages 9-12, but younger readers may appreciate it as well.

Similar Titles: The Cricket in Times Square, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, My Father's Dragon

Personal Thoughts: While the novel is slightly dated, it continues to gain fans. Part of this is due to the classic story of a little man pursuing his dreams and succeeding. However, the penguins significantly contribute to the popularity of the story as well. The novel would not enjoy nearly as much success if it focused on dogs, pigs, or parrots. Penguins are foreign. They are also adorable. So the concept of a cute but strange creature in an urban setting continues to enchant and amuse readers.

The book received a Newbury Award.

As of this writing, a movie based on the novel is in the works. However, it seems to vary widely from the original source.

Random note: The penguins in the book are Adélie penguins, one of only two that live directly on Antarctica (the other is the emperor penguin, of March of the Penguins fame).

Fairy Tales and Penguins

So, this week, we discovered most fairy tales are completely unsuitable for children. Humorous hyperbole aside, some of the original translations may not be quite what people imagine. Nevertheless, the stories are still good.

Next week, at the request of one of my viewers, we will review penguin-based resources.

Showdown!