Penguin week was always one of my favorite weeks to teach and also one of my students’ favorite weeks to learn. There are so many amazing fiction and nonfiction penguin books available to enhance student learning and engagement. Here are my 12 favorite penguin books for students.
12 Penguin Books for Little Learners
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Tacky’s perfect friends find him annoying until his odd behavior saves the day.
Learn all of the interesting secrets of penguins in this level 2 reader from National Geographic.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
This book was written more than 60 years ago – but it is just as entertaining now as it was then! A Newberry Honors Book, this is perfect for older children to read themselves, or for parents to read one chapter at a time.
The beautiful illustrations in the non fiction book make the habits and the habitat of the penguins come alive on the pages.
Another excellently written non fiction book, this one follows the penguin from egg to adulthood. A fantastic learning tool for kids who love to know all of the details!
The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins
The male emperor penguin sits on the eggs while the female hunts for food. Children will enjoy learning these facts and the warm story of the devoted father is a lovely touch.
If You Were a Penguin by Florence Minor
This book tells a story about all of the activities that penguins like to do with beautiful arctic illustrations and simple text.
From the Smithsonian, this nonfiction book includes vivid photography and tons of penguin facts. Kids will be drawn right in to learning about the Penguin species.
The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin by Bobbie Kalman
Children will be fascinated by the journey taken by Emperor penguins to their annual breeding grounds. This book will be an excellent addition to your home library.
A delightful story of a boy and his penguin friend, the two work together to figure out how to get the penguin to be able to fly.
In board book or hardcover, this book aids in letter recognition while entertaining young readers with adorable penguins. Perfect for preschoolers!
Where Is Home, Little Pip? by Karma Wilson
An adventure story about a young penguin who wanders far from home, this book includes gorgeous illustrations and a happy ending.
Can you not find a resource that you would LOVE to have for your classroom? Contact me and I would be happy to make it for you.
Don’t forget to check out all of the children’s book lists featured on A Dab of Glue Will Do. Do you have any favorite children’s penguin books that are not on the list? If so, please share in the comments below. If you are looking for more penguin ideas, activities, and printables to do at home or in the classroom make sure to check out our other Penguin Lessons.
Penguin Sets Sail by Jessica Linn Evans, is published by Rainstorm Books. “Set sail with a lovable Penguin in this wordless picture book about friendship, home, and the high seas. A unique approach to reading that encourages imagination and improves verbal skills in children of all ages.” 🙂