Penguin's Egg
What’s inside...
A whimsical tale of a penguin's adventurous journey to find a lost egg and the friendships formed along the way, filled with magic and surprises. When a penguin dad ends up far away from his nest, he’s determined to make it back to see his egg hatch by any means necessary in this charming “hero’s journey for bedtime or naptime”. On a frozen sea, where the snow falls fast, and the whirlwinds rage and storm, a rockhopper egg, in a stony nest, was lying safe and warm. Dad watched and waited, waited, watched, the night grew inky black, then he fell into a sleep so deep, he didn't hear the CRACK. Daddy Penguin finds himself adrift in an unfamiliar world, and he must get home for his egg! From train to helicopter, hot-air balloon to limousine, Daddy Penguin hitches lifts with kindly folk - but will he be home in time? A race against time for Daddy Penguin in this rhyming delight.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the penguin feels when it sees the egg for the first time?
How do you think taking care of an egg teaches the penguin about responsibility?
What would you do if you were in the penguin’s place and found an egg?
Why is it important for the penguin to keep the egg safe and warm?
What did you learn about penguins and their habits from this story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story and relate it to their own experiences of responsibility and care. Use expressive reading techniques, changing your tone and pace to match the storyline, making the story more captivating and immersive for your child. Discuss the importance of nurturing and protection in both the animal kingdom and human world, drawing parallels where possible. Encourage empathy by asking your child how they believe the characters feel in different scenarios throughout the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: In 'Penguin's Egg', the young penguin learns to take care of an egg entrusted to him, showcasing his journey into responsible behavior.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to doing their chores, taking care of pets, or even being responsible for their own belongings.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Throughout the story, the young penguin faces various challenges but continues to strive towards protecting the egg, highlighting the value of determination.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by not giving up easily in school subjects or other activities that might be challenging at first.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The protagonist learns to understand and share the feelings of others, particularly through his interactions with other characters worried about the egg.
Real-World Application: This story can help children understand the importance of recognizing emotions in others and responding with kindness and support.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: The young penguin learns that looking after the egg is easier with the help of his friends, thus providing a lesson on the benefits of working together.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to cooperate with siblings or classmates in group tasks or games, appreciating that collective efforts often yield better outcomes.