Module 2: Mr. Popper's Penguins

 

Book Summary

An eccentric man, Mr. Popper, spends his summers working as a painter and his winters reading and dreaming about polar expeditions.  He acquires a penguin, then another, and soon 12 baby penguins.  Mr. Popper's children are excited about the penguins and his wife reluctantly allows them.  Although financially broke, Mr. Popper cares for the penguins and transforms his house into a chilly penguin friendly environment.  In order to continuing caring for the penguins, the Popper's decide to train them to perform on stage.  The Popper's then go on tour with the penguins and Mr. Popper eventually decides to take them to the North Pole.

APA Reference

Atwater, R. & Atwater, F. (1938).  Mr. Popper's penguins.  New York, NY:  Little Brown And Company.

 

Impressions

I was not very impressed with this book.  It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but probably not something I would recommend to a child unless they really loved penguins and couldn't find enough penguin books!  I normally like humorous books, but I thought this was a little too "corny".  I would be interested to hear a child's opinion, maybe it's funny if you're a kid.  The pacing of the book seemed a little hurried. There were several parts that seemed like they were quickly made up on the spot without much thought or effort put forth, as if the authors rushed through.  I also thought the tone was a little condescending, for example the veterinarian is referred to as "veterinarian doctor".  Why not just say veterinarian?  Perhaps that was common terminology for the time period in which the book was written.  I have not seen the movie; maybe this is one instance where the movie is better than the book?

Professional Reviews

It's time for comfort reading. Something light. Something frivolous. Something completely irrelevant to Iraq, the economy, health care, the environment, or anyone or anything from Texas or Massachusetts. For some, that might mean a moody spy thriller, or a trashy celebrity bio, or a stirring historical romance. Others will find solace in astronomy or bugs or food (though Martha Stewart fans may be at a disadvantage this year). For me, it's penguins.
Even as a little boy, I loved penguins. Who doesn't? They waddle. They toboggan. They squawk. And those little black suits! Come on America, we love black and white. What's not to love? That's why this month I'm recommending one of my favorite childhood books, Mr. Popper's Penguins.
I hadn't read Mr. Popper's in about three decades, but recently stumbled across a copy and enjoyed it like I was eight-years-old all over again. And let me tell you. It's a lot more fun than the Hitler biography I've been working my way through for the past two months.
The story is simple. Mr. Popper is a common house painter who secretly longs to travel to Antarctica with Admiral Drake (and what bored house painter doesn't?). So he sends his hero a long adoring letter. The Admiral is so impressed, he not only responds, he sends Mr. Popper a gift: one adult penguin (named Captain Cook). Soon, Mr. Popper receives a second gift, a mate for the Captain, and, by the end of the chapter, baby makes twelve. The Poppers turn their gaggle of penguins into a traveling stage act and become rich and famous. The story has charming illustrations by Robert Lawson and is told with a subtle wit reminiscent of E. B. White.
Still, this title is not right for every reader. Originally published in 1938, Mr. Popper's Penguins is somewhat outdated. For starters, in the final chapters, Admiral Drake returns to the US and asks Mr. Popper to join him on a trip to the North Pole. The North Pole doesn't have penguins, and he wants Mr. Popper to bring his troupe along and introduce them as a seed population. An obvious environmental faux pas. You can bet Tipper Gore wasn't reading this title to her youngsters.
Far more disturbing, though, is the scene toward the end of the story where Mr. Popper is approached by a big Hollywood producer. By this time Mr. Popper's Penguins have become quite famous, so the producer, hoping to make a buck, offers the Poppers a lucrative film contract. After careful deliberation, Mr. Popper decides that the well-being of his Penguins is more important than money -- or Hollywood! -- and turns him down. Naturally, some parents may find this a disturbing message for impressionable young readers and might prefer a more commerce-friendly title.
But quibbles aside, Mr. Popper's Penguins is an established classic that will delight readers of all stripes -- especially those looking to avoid any mention of red and blue.

Jones, M. (2004, October 9).  [Review of the book Mr. Popper's penguins, by Richard & Florence Atwater].  Retrieved from http://www.powells.com/review/2004_10_09.html.

 

Library Uses

This would be a fun book to incorporate with a map lesson.  You could locate all the places that the Popper's traveled to with their penguins (Seattle, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia , Boston, New York, and the North Pole).

Book cover image from: http://www.betterworldbooks.com/mr-popper-s-penguins-id-0316058432.aspx