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Mr. Popper's Penguins

by Richard Atwater, Florence Atwater, Robert Lawson (Illustrator)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 23,307 ratings · 1,146 reviews

The Poppers unexpectedly come into possession of a penguin, then get a penguin from the zoo who mates with the first penguin to have 10 baby penguins. Before long, something must be done before they eat the Poppers out of house and home!

A classic of American humor, this story of a gentle housepainter and his high stepping penguins has delighted children for generations.

Paperback, 139 pages

Published November 2nd 1992 by Little, Brown and Company (first published 1938)

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Community Reviews

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Jan 03, 2011 Mariel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: free loading pets

Recommended to Mariel by: get rich quick schemes

I made all my pets read this to try and make them understand that they need to support ME for a change. It's not a good book for getting the good life, unfortunately. It's cute enough, though. It was cute in a good way, not the "Wild hijinks ensue!" sitcomy problems way. I think birds cause an awful lot of problems. It was good that the book took that problem seriously. I also liked that Mr. Popper was obsessed and got into the spirit of his hobby. I love to know that kind of stuff about people....more

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Jan 20, 2011 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-aloud-to-t-and-j-too-sort-of

I remember loving this in third grade when the school librarian read it aloud to our class. Decided to try it on the seven year-old, who likes animal stories, and was curious to see if I'd still like it at this late date. Yes, but not as much. This time around, I thought it got off to a slow start, and it struck me that it would be odd today for the main (human) character in a children's book to be an adult, although the rumpled, absent-minded, polar-fanatic house-painter Mr. Popper is hardly a...more

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Dec 13, 2008 Evan Schwenk rated it 5 of 5 stars

The single greatest book of my childhood. (Nerd alert warning)...This will explain how much I enjoyed this book. When I first read it, I had inherited a copy from one of my older siblings. They had written their name in the front of it, because our mother has a weird obsession with putting our names on everything that was ours (especially books and clothes). When I was sent home with one of the scholastic book buy handouts (which I was obsessed with), I told my mom that we did not own the book....more

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Oct 19, 2007 The Library Lady rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-every-child-should-know, childrens-fiction

Mr Popper is a mild mannered house painter who loves to listen to radio programs about penguins. So when an Admiral sends him a REAL penguin, he is delighted to have it for a pet. Only "Captain Cook" gets lonely, and needs a mate, so the Admiral sends "Greta". Soon there are 12 penguins living in the Poppers basement. And times are tough and the Poppers don't have much money to feed those penguins. What to do?

This is a warm, funny, old fashioned family story that makes a wonderful read aloud. Su...more

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May 29, 2008 Kressel Housman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-aloud-to-kids

My son the nature-lover, who is not as avid a reader as his brothers, is a die-hard fan of this book. His enthusiasm began in school when his teacher read the book to his class, and before she could finish, he persuaded me to bring it home to read at bedtime. It's the charming and often funny story of an ordinary house painter who dreams of Antarctica. When he receives a penguin as a surprise gift, the adventures begin! The book was written in the 30's, but it really transcends time. A fun follo...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Kelley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy/Newbery Honor
Mr. Popper dreams of being an Antarctic explorer and receives a response to a fan letter he sent to Admiral Drake in the way of a package. The package contains a penguin, and soon he has multiple penguins that he must decide how he can care for.

Plot
The plot behind this story is pretty farfetched; the idea of penguins being mailed to someone and then that person trying to raise them in their home makes for an amusing tale. The character of Mr. Popper is also a fun addi...more

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May 15, 2013 Tinyde rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wrote a review on this book if you don't wan the story sort of spoilt don't read.

The two main characters in Mr Popper’s Penguins are Mr Popper himself and Captain Cook. Mr Popper is important because he inspires the love for penguins. Mr Popper starts out as a painter and room decorator for Stillwater. He is very absent-minded and laid back but he loves to study penguins. Captain Cook is the first penguin to join the Popper family and as the father of the ten penguins, he is probably the most...more I wrote a review on this book if you don't wan the story sort of spoilt don't read.

The two main characters in Mr Popper’s Penguins are Mr Popper himself and Captain Cook. Mr Popper is important because he inspires the love for penguins. Mr Popper starts out as a painter and room decorator for Stillwater. He is very absent-minded and laid back but he loves to study penguins. Captain Cook is the first penguin to join the Popper family and as the father of the ten penguins, he is probably the most important. He is described as a little gentleman.
Janie, is the daughter and Bill, is the son of Mr Popper and Mrs Popper. They both love animals and assist with the penguins care. Mrs Popper is the wife of Mr Popper and often concerns herself over little things. Admiral Drake is an explorer/scientist in the South and North Pole, and he sent Captain Cook to the Poppers. Greta is the second penguin in the Popper family and she gives birth to 10 penguins, Nelson, Columbus, Louisa, Jenny, Scott, Magellan, Adelina, Isabella, Ferdinand and Victoria. Mr Greenbaum is the owner of many theatres and the Popper family ask if they can use his theatres to present the penguin shows. Mr Swenson is the owner of Swenson’s Seals and he is irate about the Popper Performing Penguins. In the end Mr Swenson sends the police authority to put Mr Popper in jail for ruining his show.

Mr Popper’s Penguins is set in Stillwater, the home town for the Popper family and in local theatres. The main characters in the book endeavour to teach the penguins to perform live. The final outcome is that the penguins begin performing live. However, Admiral Drake asks Mr Popper if he can take the penguins back to the North Pole to further assist with his research. Mr Popper decides this is best and he travels by boat with Admiral Drake to the North Pole to witness the release of his penguins. Mr Poppers Penguins is humorous throughout the storyline with funny phrases and entertaining pictures.
I enjoy Mr Popper Penguins because there is never a dull moment, and it is greatly entertaining. My only negative comment is that the storyline is rather fast- paced, jumping from one scene to another too quickly, with little information given on the emotions of the characters. Such as when the children learn they are the owners of penguins; the authors did not elaborate on how the children were feeling i.e.: excited, happy, bedazzled, or overwhelmed? I did not really learn anything from this book, as the book had no real moral and I think the book was written for enjoyment. I would recommend this story to someone aged 8 to early teens, or to someone who enjoys delightful and classic literature.

It is a good classic to read.(less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Tasasha Battle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-like-a-writer

Details in a story can be crucial to the reader as well as the writer. Including details in a piece can give your reader a visual understanding of the characters and settings. It is beneficial to the writer because their intentions can get across to the reader effectively. Fletcher describes this as “…creat[ing] vivid pictures for the reader” (Fletcher 102). It is these little elements that can elevate your writing and attract your reader. Vivid details are what the authors Richard and Florence...more Details in a story can be crucial to the reader as well as the writer. Including details in a piece can give your reader a visual understanding of the characters and settings. It is beneficial to the writer because their intentions can get across to the reader effectively. Fletcher describes this as “…creat[ing] vivid pictures for the reader” (Fletcher 102). It is these little elements that can elevate your writing and attract your reader. Vivid details are what the authors Richard and Florence Atwater is missing in their book Mr. Popper’s Penguins. The book was on the level of the students and they enjoyed listening to it; however, I felt that it read as a story. By this I mean that it was writer just for the purpose of reading. While I was reading it I could not picture, mentally, the scenes or characters. I knew whom the main characters were and where the scenes were taking place, but I did not know what the scenes looked like nor did I know the personalities of the characters. For example, if someone were to ask me, hypnotically, what Mr. Popper would do or react to a situation I would not have been able to respond. I wished that the authors had gone deeper into the story with descriptions. I suggest that they take their already presents humor and use that to add details in the story. When we first met Mr. Popper he was painting people’s kitchens two different colors and walking the streets with painter supplies. I believe that the authors should have taken Mr. Popper’s awkward physical description, which the neighbors saw, and provided richer details to the reader. By using the same type of humor when giving details, the story could be more enticing to the reader. Further, I would use this book to teach students the value of descriptive details in their writings. We would read:

“He was carrying his bucket, his ladders, and his boards so that he had rather a hard time moving along. He was spattered here and there with paint and calamine, and whickers, for he was rather an untidy man. The children looked up from their play to smile at him as he passed, and the housewives, seeing him, said, “Oh dear, there goes Mr. Popper…”” (Atwater 3-4).

After reading this we would discuss what we think Mr. Popper looks like and see if we can extend his descriptions to include vivid details. Following our brainstorming, the students would practice in their writer’s notebooks a description of something using vivid details.
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Apr 05, 2013 Hunter added it

Mr. Poppers Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, is a fun and adventurous classic book about this strange house painter who lives in Stillwater named Mr. Popper. He lives with his two kids, one boy, one girl, and his wife-Mrs. Popper. He is a very interesting man and he loves Antarctic and the North and South Poles. He reads about them constantly and sees as many films as he can about them. He also wondered what it would be like to own a Penguin and he wanted one badly. So he decided to wri...more Mr. Poppers Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, is a fun and adventurous classic book about this strange house painter who lives in Stillwater named Mr. Popper. He lives with his two kids, one boy, one girl, and his wife-Mrs. Popper. He is a very interesting man and he loves Antarctic and the North and South Poles. He reads about them constantly and sees as many films as he can about them. He also wondered what it would be like to own a Penguin and he wanted one badly. So he decided to write a letter to Admiral Drake who is a man that is on an Antarctic Expedition and is on the radio during his expedition. Suddenly Mr. Popper heard his name on the radio and it was Admiral Drake responding to his letter that he wrote to him! Mr. Popper was thrilled and he was also expecting a package from Admiral Drake after Admiral responded. A few days later, this mysterious package all the way from Antarctica came. Mr. Popper opened it up and inside it was a little cute penguin named Captain Cook which the name was made up by Mr. Popper. But little did he know that with keeping this penguin, it changes his life and his families, and always will. As more and more penguins come, it becomes more challenging for the Popper's to take care of them. There are many challenges with taking care of the penguins like, taking care of them on a daily basis and making sure they get there food and air that they need to survive. There are also many challenges with other people in public with them not liking the fact that Mr. Popper has a penguin. As the number of penguins increase it gets harder and harder for Mr. Popper and his family to take care of them. This book is a classic because it was made in 1938 which is a very long time ago and it is a good and well known book. The book was so popular that they made a movie of it in 2011 staring Jim Carrey. Although I did enjoy the book, I think the authors could have explained better about they had to deal with problems with the penguins at home in the book. One thing that I thought the author did well was what all different people's reactions were to Mr. Popper having penguins and taking them out and letting them out lose in public. There were lots of mixed emotions about the penguins thought all of the citizens. there was also some good themes and lessons to take from this book. One example might be something like to never give up on something that you love and strongly believe in. Overall I liked the book Mr. Poppers Penguins, I thought it was an easy read but still a very adventurous book and a good classic.(less)

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Nov 28, 2012 Marjorie Estavillo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater was an absolute joy to read. This book made me feel a variety of emotions, when I started reading the book, I immediately fell in love with all the penguins. Then when the penguins were taken away from Mr. Popper I was really sad. I love a book that can make me feel more that one emotion, it make the reading experience so much more exciting. This book has very good details and imagery as I was reading it I could see the pictures rolling through my mind as...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animal-narrator, good-read-aloud

I am a doofus. I don't know what happens to my brain, but it just checks out of reality. Climbs a mountain; hides in the clouds. Take for instance this morning. I'm at church. I have to go to the bathroom really bad so I run out, use the stall, only to emerge and see men at the sink. Ahhh! What a doofus! I went in the men's bathroom. And I confess, this isn't the first time this has happened.

Mr. Popper is an absentminded doofus too. When his penguins yank him down three flights of stairs, I'm th...more I am a doofus. I don't know what happens to my brain, but it just checks out of reality. Climbs a mountain; hides in the clouds. Take for instance this morning. I'm at church. I have to go to the bathroom really bad so I run out, use the stall, only to emerge and see men at the sink. Ahhh! What a doofus! I went in the men's bathroom. And I confess, this isn't the first time this has happened.

Mr. Popper is an absentminded doofus too. When his penguins yank him down three flights of stairs, I'm thinking, uh-huh, that would happen to me. When he loses control of 12 penguins who invade an orchestra pit I recall teaching Sunday school and having 9 boys hanging from the trees outside (I thought it would be fun to have the lesson outside). AND when Mr. Popper's wife says that it is so much easier to clean with him not around, I look down at the piles around my chair of Nooks, books, and notepads and wonder if my husband would like to send me to the North Pole on an expedition. Speaking of my husband, he's been reading this book to his first graders for 18 years. Hmmm... I think the read is cathartic. He loves me. But I know I'm a challenge at times.

But, back to Mr. Popper. What makes this book so lovable? It is completely unbelievable. Why can that be annoying in some books and totally charming in others? I think the charm is the appeal of the characters from the penguins to Mr. Popper and the imaginative, unpredictable plot. Add in a nice dose of true facts about penguins and you have a charming marble cake. (I really want something sweet to eat right now.)

Right off the bat we learn that Mr. Popper is a dreamer. He dreams of not being a painter and instead exploring far-away countries. When Mr. Popper gets a penguin in the mail from Sir Admiral Drake who is exploring the South Pole, he is delighted. Mrs. Popper isn't so sure about a penguin as a pet but falls in love with it consenting to it living with her and their two children, Bill and Janie. Mr. Popper begins converting his refrigerator into a nest for the penguin named Captain Cook. When Captain Cook becomes ill the Poppers get Greta, a female penguin; thus causing a host of new issues Mr. Popper must tackle.

The first issue was that the two penguins didn't fit in the refrigerator. With the winter season beginning, Mr. Popper decided the two penguins could nest in the living room, so he opened the windows to let in falling snow that quickly piled into drifts. The penguins used the drifts as toboggan runs and Mr. Popper iced the floor so the runs were even faster. Janie and Bill had fun playing with the penguins until it became obvious that Greta was going to have babies. Mr. Popper then moved the furnace upstairs and installed a freezing plant in the basement where a bundle of penguin chicks were born.

When the Poppers started running out of money they decided to teach the penguins to act and join the theater. The Poppers Performing Penguins were a smash hit and Bill and Janie got to miss school so the show could travel around the United States. How can a young reader not love all that? Sledding in the living room, having pet penguins, traveling in a theater show, missing school. The penguins are the brains of this book. They are quite good at manipulating the adults and from their hilarious pranks to Mr. Popper's wildly imaginative problem-solving, this is a fun ride.

A great read aloud.

Reading Level 4.9(less)

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May 22, 2012 Abigail Larsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you’ve seen the movie, that does not mean you’ve read the book. That’s always the case, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins is no exception. One of the sillier reads our family enjoyed, this story follows Mr. Popper, an average American house painter, Mrs. Popper, and their two young children, Janie and Bill, on a series of unusual adventures that begin when a penguin is shipped to their doorstep. Dubbed Captain Cook, the penguin quickly brings out the kid in Mr. Popper, who has a passion for everythin...more

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May 17, 2012 Julia Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

I rated this book 4 stars because it's really funny and becdause it also tells about an edventure that Mr. Popper had. I thought it really needed 4 stars because it;s a fantastic story i have seen the movie but thsi book is really creative and interesting plus it goes dip in the story.

This book is about Mr.Popper and his dad gave him penguins. He had a lot of difficulties with his new son. Mrs. Popper had a son and a doughter and they loved the penguins, but Popper could not keep them at all bec...more

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May 14, 2012 Bianca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mr. Popper, a simple house painter, married and father of two, has a big dream. Explore the icy Antarctic penguins and meet people, his great passion.

He's got the biggest surprise when the correspondence with Admiral Drake, his great hero, who lives in Antarctica, receives an order to answer unusual: a real penguin! Mr. Popper is totally fascinated, unable to believe the beautiful gift that just received. At first, all enjoy a very big thing, children are the biggest party animal imitating the...more

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May 09, 2012 Sara Thompson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Having read so many juvenile and children’s books lately this was a real treat. Not only has Mr Popper’s Penguins been on my to read list but it comes highly recommended on many reading lists. Published in 1938, Mr Popper’s Penguins is a children’s classic. Last year it was made into a movie (I haven’t seen it yet and was waiting until after I read the book) and in turn was re-released as a book with a short biography of the writers at the end. The thing I noticed first about Mr Popper’s Penguin...more Having read so many juvenile and children’s books lately this was a real treat. Not only has Mr Popper’s Penguins been on my to read list but it comes highly recommended on many reading lists. Published in 1938, Mr Popper’s Penguins is a children’s classic. Last year it was made into a movie (I haven’t seen it yet and was waiting until after I read the book) and in turn was re-released as a book with a short biography of the writers at the end. The thing I noticed first about Mr Popper’s Penguins is the language. I know it’s a classic and the story is delightful but I think I’ve been kind of ruined for children’s fiction. There is such an expectation nowadays to have tighter more descriptive language. We want each word to have meaning so we don’t feel like we are wasting our time. Good stories are lost in a sea of expectations for language. It was actually a relief to read something that was just a good story. The story is horribly silly and that’s great. There’s no evil to be conquered and everything works out fine. There is a small moment when the group arrives at the wrong theatre but even then it’s all in good fun. I miss that. I miss just enjoying the ride. For those not familiar with the story – Mr Popper receives a penguin in the mail from a famous explorer in Antarctica. He and his wife make a home for the penguin in their refrigerator (with help from their two children). Soon, Captain Cook (as the penguin is named) becomes ill. Fearful that there is something terribly wrong with him, Mr Popper writes to a zoologist who in return sends him Greta, a penguin with a similar problem. Over the winter, Greta and Captain Cook become parents to 10 babies. In true fancy, they become performing penguins and everyone goes on the road. This is a great adventure for all. The book is simple enough for a young reader to understand. Middle grade and older students might find there is not enough action in the book but I still recommend encouraging them to try to read this book. It’s from a different time when kids weren’t force feed stimulation all day long. It reminds the reader that not everything has to be action oriented and sometimes a good story is just a good story.
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Apr 09, 2012 Sammie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, always-going-back-and-reading, favorites, kindle-edition, read-as-a-child

"Call who Captain Cook?" asked Mrs. Popper, who had come in so quietly that none of them had heard her.
"Why, the penguin," said Mr. Popper. "I was just saying," he went on, as Mrs. Popper sat down suddenly on the floor to recover from her surprise,"that we'd name him after Captain Cook. He was famous English explorer who lived about the time of the American Revolution. He sailed all over where no one had ever been before."

This book is a particular favorite of mine.

It's zany. It's got penguins. I...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Mimi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: older-children

This is a good book for older children. I think they would really like the idea of penguins living in the house with a family. I enjoyed the illustrations, and I am glad I finally read this classic.

As a mother though, I can't really get over the last page where the husband just suddenly left for the Arctic not to return for a few years. That would not go over well with me. And how could Mr. Popper leave his kids? Were the penguins, the Arctic, and finally seeing the world really that important t...more This is a good book for older children. I think they would really like the idea of penguins living in the house with a family. I enjoyed the illustrations, and I am glad I finally read this classic.

As a mother though, I can't really get over the last page where the husband just suddenly left for the Arctic not to return for a few years. That would not go over well with me. And how could Mr. Popper leave his kids? Were the penguins, the Arctic, and finally seeing the world really that important to him?! Couldn't he wait until his children were grown? I don't think I'm supposed to be that upset by it. It isn't supposed to be a serious book, I don't think. But really . . .

"'Mamma,' shouted Mr. Popper to Mrs. Popper, who had already gone up the gangplank. 'I'm going, too! I'm going, too! Admiral Drake says he needs me. Mamma, do you mind if I don't come home for a year or two?'

'Oh, as to that,' said Mrs. Popper. 'I'll miss you very much, my dear. But we have money to live on for a few years. And in winter it will be much easier to keep the house tidy without a man sitting around all day. I'll be getting back to Stillwater. Tomorrow is the day for the meeting of the Ladies' Aid and Missionary Society, and I'll be just in time. So good-by, my love, and good luck.'

'Good-by and good luck!' echoed the children."

Seriously?

And a lot of the book really seemed to emphasize that Mr. Popper's role was to make money for the family, and Mrs. Popper's role was to keep the house clean and let Mr. Popper know when they had no more money. Which is all well and fine and works well for many couples, but what about the kids? Whose role is it to interact, inspire, and stimulate the kids? And shouldn't the Poppers be a bit more in love?

That said, the book is not meant to cover all points of life, it was written a long time ago, and I am not its intended audience.

The book will be enjoyable for kids who will find the penguins funny and who will love the idea of an ice skating rink in the cellar. It will also teach them a few things about the Arctic and Antarctic and some of the explorers there. I think it will also teach them to follow their dreams and that anything is possible.

It will not, however, teach them that school is very important (the Poppers pull their kids out for ten whole weeks to tour the country with the penguins), nor will they learn that it is important to have their father at home with them interacting with them. But again, perhaps I'm taking it too seriously. :) I have that problem sometimes.(less)

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Feb 06, 2012 Vidya Tiru rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

: What is not to love about penguins? And when they are as adorable as Mr.Popper’s penguins with wonderful names to boot, that is just perfect. This book is exactly that – a perfect little book that is great to read-aloud, great for any age (I loved it) and a perfect size (not too long and not too short) - with illustrations that catch your eye, penguins that pop out of the pages, and the most endearing characters (human and animal).
Mr.Popper is a house painter who has lived all his life in Sti...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Coreena rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a sweet book that will probably appeal to a wide variety of younger middle school readers. Mr. Popper is a house painter who has finished his work for the year. Every winter, he sits at home and dreams about travelling, though he has never left his small town of Stillwater. He especially dreams of the Arctic poles. One day, he receives a package from the famous Admiral Drake, a penguin from the Antarctic, and the fun begins.

It is fun to see Mr. Popper's passion for his penguins shine thr...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Shala Howell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-books

My Four-Year-Old is just beginning to be interested in having chapter books read to her. But as she gets stressed out by conflict of any sort, it's kind of tough finding good candidates for her. This is a winner.

For those of you who haven't read the book, the basic premise is that a house painter who spends his off-hours reading about (and writing to) explorers in the South Pole receives a penguin in the mail from one of those explorers. Since his work is over for the winter, he becomes very in...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Jane Meyer rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: blah

Shelves: middlegrade

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've just read this book in full for the second time. One chapter at bed time for twenty nights running. Ugh... I remember reading this maybe 10-12 years ago to my older son and being distraught then about the story. But of course, over time, people convince you that it wasn't so bad and your opinion begins to waver...

There's just not much to recommend this book. The characters are all wishy washy, except for Mr. Popper who has decided to like and care for his penguins despite all the odds--some...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Gecky Boz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Popper's Penguins

* Read via NetGalley

This book is definitely a solid 4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes because it is memorable and surprisingly entertaining throughout. I read this book a long time ago and thought I should read it again because of the movie that came out based on the book.

Mr. Popper is a house painter so he only has money for about half of the year, the other half his family lives on what he makes. Let's just say that the Popper's aren't exactly rich. Mr. Popper looks forward to sitting...more Popper's Penguins

* Read via NetGalley

This book is definitely a solid 4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes because it is memorable and surprisingly entertaining throughout. I read this book a long time ago and thought I should read it again because of the movie that came out based on the book.

Mr. Popper is a house painter so he only has money for about half of the year, the other half his family lives on what he makes. Let's just say that the Popper's aren't exactly rich. Mr. Popper looks forward to sitting around the house and his favorite radio show is about the polar explorer Admiral Drake. He loves hearing about the arctic and is very surprised when he receives a present in the mail. This present is a real live penguin.

This is a fun story to read and I laughed at a lot of parts that I had forgot about. One of my favorite parts is that at first the family actually modifies the refrigerator so the penguin can live inside. This is a pretty ingenious thing and makes quite a memorable image. The illustrations in the book also help the story move along and add some great breaks to the book.

Having a penguin of course causes a commotion is town and it's not long before a girl penguin is added to the mix and after a while they end up with twelve penguins. Then it kind of turns into a situation like in that episode of The Simpsons where they can't afford to feed and keep Lisa's horse. The Popper's are a little more creative though and start an act featuring the penguins which soon makes them massively popular and extremely profitable.

There are problems and plenty of penguin shenanigans to overcome but you can really imagine what an entertaining show this would truly be. The ending really shows it's age though and struck me at least a little strange for a children's book, it's probably more fitting for the era in which it was originally written.

Rereading this story made me realize all over again how good a story it is and how it has probably spurred many generations to love penguins. Overall this book is one that stands the test of time and will probably be enjoyed far into the future. (less)

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Jul 07, 2011 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, 2011-read, favorites

This was one of my favorite books as a child. When I got back from a week-long trip last night, all I wanted to do was read something so familiar that I didn't have to think at all. This book fit the bill admirably.

This slim book is about a housepainter named Mr. Popper who is fascinated by the North and South Poles. His devotion leads him to read copiously on the subjects, and to write to his hero, Admiral Drake, explorer of the Poles. As a gift to his devoted fan, Drake sends Popper a surprise...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Michelle Isenhoff rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really liked this book! I was hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect. The sentences seemed a little simplistic, the details redundant, and the humor a bit corny. But I quickly realized this is not a middle grade novel but one aimed at a slightly younger audience, unusual for a Newbery winner. It’s a wonderful chapter book choice for 7 to 9-year-olds. So I amend my hasty judgments. The sentences are easy for new readers to wade through, the repetition helpful and even funny, and the outl...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-sale, children-s-books

I know. So, what was I thinking when I bought this book?

Well. It was only $.50 at a library sale, so I decided to risk it. And the result?

It was a sweet, though unrealistic little story. Mr. Popper is the local painter in the town of Stillwater, but he dreams of adventurous expeditions to the North and South Poles. He reads books about the Poles, listens to radio shows about the Poles, and is generally absorbed in them. One day, in response to a letter which he wrote to the great Antarctic explo...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Josiah rated it 1 of 5 stars

I would give this book one and a half stars.

Mr. Popper's Penguins isn't like most of the stories you'll read that have received official recognition from the Newbery Committee over the years. The book is very much a product of its time, featuring the types of humor and characters common to children's books of the 1930s. This means that the story will likely have its greatest appeal to the very youngest of readers, most likely those in third grade and younger.

Mr. Popper is a good man, but a reg...more

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Mar 31, 2011 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: christine, contemporary, childrens

It amazes me that Mr Popper’s Penguins was written in 1938. Did you know that? Because I didn’t, until I just recently. And it’s still beloved and read by children today. It boggles my mind.

Strangely enough, I remember reading this book when I was young. It made that much of an impact. My mother blames it for starting my fascination with penguins. Apparently after reading Mr Popper’s Penguins, I constantly insisted on going to the nearest zoo so I could “free them and bring them home to live wit...more It amazes me that Mr Popper’s Penguins was written in 1938. Did you know that? Because I didn’t, until I just recently. And it’s still beloved and read by children today. It boggles my mind.

Strangely enough, I remember reading this book when I was young. It made that much of an impact. My mother blames it for starting my fascination with penguins. Apparently after reading Mr Popper’s Penguins, I constantly insisted on going to the nearest zoo so I could “free them and bring them home to live with us.” While I don’t remember saying that, I have always wanted a penguin as a pet, as I’m sure almost everyone does after reading this book. I mean, they strut! And pick up the things around your house that you can’t reach. And are generally awesome. How could you not want a penguin as a pet??

A refresher for those who haven’t read this in a while:

Mr. Popper is a house painter. He works for only a couple months of the year doing the painting gig and then sits at home for the rest of the year reading about the Poles. Mr. Popper is obsessed with the Poles, especially when it comes to penguins. After writing a letter to Admiral Drake, who is currently on a South Pole expedition, Drake sends Mr. Popper a rather large crate.

I’m sure you’ve guessed what’s inside the crate. That’s right – it’s a penguin!

Chaos ensues, another penguin joins the family, the two penguins hit it off and make more penguins and there’s more chaos. It’s a fun time all-around.

So, I was pleasantly surprised when I re-read this book last week. It’s still great! I learned facts about penguins that I’d forgotten – did you know penguins are very curious? And that they sleep on rocks or pebbles? What about that they can go without food for up to a month? – but I didn’t realize I was ‘learning’ at the time. (Trickery!) It just flowed naturally with the narration.

I love the illustrations, especially of Captain Cook (the penguin) and the one where Mr. Popper and Captain Cook are strutting down the street during their walk. These are the original illustrations from 1938 and they’ve stood the test of time.

I also love how this family handles change. A penguin shows up in a crate and it’s like, “Oh, look, a penguin.” Not even a ripple of opposition from this family. They’re very adaptable. Just a shrug and a wave and they’re on to something else. You don’t see that anymore in books.

If you’ve never read Mr. Popper’s Penguins, you have missed a landmark in children’s literature. This book led generations of children to discover a love for penguins. And that love doesn’t go away. I can still watch penguins at the zoo for hours and I still want one for a pet. (I’ve decided penguins must be very easy to ship since it was done twice in this book and that was back in the ’30s. So there’s no reason I can’t have a penguin as a pet if they’re so easy to send.)

Review on WhatchYAreading on November 18, 2010.(less)

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Jan 27, 2011 Pricky rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

I read this as a child and really enjoyed it so I read it to my daughter. She really loved it and maybe I have to just remind myself that this is a book for the "younger folk."

As an adult, when I read this, I just thought it was just Silly...silly, as in...this story doesn't make any sense at all and is just full of nonsense. Don't get me wrong, I love children's stories that have bits of fantasy to them: Ralph S. Mouse, Indian in the Cupboard, etc...It's just that, I found this to borderline th...more

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Nov 06, 2010 Amalia added it · review of another edition

I just reread this classic with my six year old. He brought home a picture book called 365 Penguins from his school library last week. In it, a family receives a penguin each and every day of the year. Very cute and it reminded me of Mr. Popper's Penguins. I asked my son if he wanted us to read it together. And so we began.

I love this book and I especially love sharing it. Captain Cook (the penguin) is such a playful character. You can see why everyone in Stillwater is so captivated. The lengths...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Sarah BT rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mr. Popper's Penguins is a children's classic and Newbery Honor book. I don't know how I had never read it as a child, but I found it to be a fun read at any age.

The story is one that I think every child dreams of at some point. An animal that is not typically a pet becomes a pet for Mr. Popper and his family. As a child, I dreamt that I would get a pet monkey, so I'm sure children would delight in reading about how the family adjusts to having a unique animal at home, and maybe learn why we sh...more

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About Richard Atwater

Richard Tupper Atwater (1892-1948) was a Chicago journalist. He wrote for a number of newspapers including the Chicago Evening Post, the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Tribune, and the Herald-Examiner. He contributed to the literary and arts magazine The Chicagoan. He also taught Greek at the University of Chicago. In 1932, after watching a documentary about Richard E. Byrd's Antarctic expedition...more

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