These delightful, adorable nonfiction books, told in whimsical verse, celebrate penguins.  They are in very good condition, considering how long I have had them!  One book has a slight 1" crease, on the front cover, in the upper right-hand corner.  The other has a more definite crease, on the left-hand side, that runs from top to bottom.  I have enclosed a closeup photo of this.  Both books have an adhesive sticker dot on the back, as I had them color-coded for my classroom library.  I used this set, in my kindergarten classroom, during the month of January.  My students loved the different varieties of penguins as the stars of the story and enjoyed learning about their lifestyles and their playful fun and activity.  Facts include looking different, living in heat and cold, and some of the movements these swimming birds can do.  These books are clean and come from a smoke free home.

The charming, informational books, with bold, realistic, and beautiful illustrations, were written by Florence Minor and illustrated by Wendell Minor.  They were published by Scholastic, Inc. and have a copyright date of 2009.  The books measure 9" x 9" and have 32 pages.  This book was the 2009 selection for Pennsylvania's One Book, Every Young Child early literacy program!  The book is quick and easy to understand for little ones.  There are just a few words on each page, and large-scale figures, set against bracing polar landscapes, will certainly captivate children. 

In this simple, breathtaking, rhyming picture book, the youngest readers will learn about varying breeds of penguins, in a variety of settings, and some of the extraordinary things they can do.  This is the perfect read-aloud for teachers and parents to share with young children as they learn about the distinctive activities penguins can engage in and imagine what life as a penguin is like!  The short text pairs perfectly with the gorgeous, vibrant, detailed illustrations.  Different species of penguins are included in the illustrations, so children can start learning the different types.  At the back of the book are both a page titled "Penguin Fun Facts" and another titled "Do You Know Your Penguins?", with illustrations of each of the 10 different types of penguins in the book.  

Whether it's the comical waddle, the formal appearance of their plumage, or their well-documented devotion to their young, penguins hold an upending appeal for young children.  This book is both entertaining and educational, with lots of interesting facts woven into a really cute story.  Children will learn appreciation for these amazing southern hemisphere friends.  As mentioned above, throughout this special story, it talks about the basic characteristics of the different types of penguins and what they can do.  And, in the end, it brings the reader and the penguins together in a sense that they can do everything together!

These books would make a wonderful addition to a preschool, kindergarten, or 1st grade classroom!  They would also be great to have in a household with young children who are penguin fans!  I am hoping to find this set a good home.