Little Penguin

by Patrick Benson

Pip is a playful, three-year-old Adelie penguin. She's not nearly as big as the Emperor penguins, who also live in the Antarctic and turn up their noses when she passes. However, after Pip's played with her friend, William, the sperm whale, she doesn't feel so small anymore.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Storytime, Family

25 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 1991

About the author

Patrick Benson has illustrated dozens of children's books, including OWL BABIES by Martin Waddell, SQUEAK'S GOOD IDEA by Max Eilenberg, THE SEA-THING CHILD by Russell Hoban, and THE MINPINS by Roald Dahl. The recipient of a Mother Goose Award in 1984, Patrick Benson lives in Hawick, England.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about a small Adeline penguin called Pip who wonders why she is so small. She sets off across the snow repeating the phrase ‘I’m a little penguin I am three’. Along the way she meets a Sperm whale who is also three but a lot bigger than her. Finally she realises she is small but that’s okay.
The front cover depicts Pip in the middle facing right suggesting she is going to go off on an adventure.

[Iqra Fiaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this text are great at showing size and scale differences between animals and the use of frames makes it seem like we are looking at a sequence of events taking place. The bigger animals take up more space in the frames which is good because children are then able to make comparisons between different animals.

This is also a great text in terms of the cross-curricular links it offers.
It can be used to explore the idea of adaptation and can be used as a hook for this topic.
It can also be linked to teaching children about accepting differences within the classroom.
The children could use this text in English lessons to write a recount of the events or to write a diary entry in the POV of the Little Penguin.

[Saima Bahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a book about a penguin who wonders through the Arctic and and as she walks past other animals, she notices they are all bigger than her. I think this book is good as it allows children to see that all animals are different and they can relate to the story themselves as humans are different too. This can then open up a discussion about themselves and what makes everyone different. I think it can be used in various subjects across the curriculum. It can be used for science where the children can look at the different types of penguins and what characteristics they all have. For Art and DT, they can all create a penguin and for English, they can describe the different characteristics of every penguin.

[Ashley Wampler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Penguin chronicles a baby penguin's life from his days as an egg on his father's feet, to hatching, to becoming a beautiful adult Emperor Penguin. This book is educational with the life stages and the different types of penguins discussed in it. It also is a heartwarming story about growing up!

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a little Adelie penguin named Picks who wanders around Antarctica wondering why she's big and other penguins are little. She befriends a sperm whale and discover big and little are relative.

Okay illustrations.

[Megan McNutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a penguin that is a lot smaller than all the other penguins and feels bad about it for awhile. The penguin goes about wondering why they are so much smaller but ends up befriending a sperm whale and realizing that it's not so bad being so small. This book would be really good for kids because a lot of time during elementary school kids are still growing and there's big difference between the kids sizes so it could be helpful to show kids that it's okay to be smaller.

[Euan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The star of this picture book is Pip, a three year old Adelie penguin who lives in the Antarctic. The book's gentle narrative sees Pip meet a group of three year old Emperor penguins who are naturally much larger than her, although they are her contemporaries in age. This meeting leads her to question why she is a little penguin, a conundrum which is put into perspective by a chance encounter with another three year old (I shall not ruin the surprise by identifying him). The text serves to acquaint children with some of the wildlife found in the region by introducing the proper name for each creature featured, and the delicate drawings in watercolour and ink enable an association between these names and physical appearance to be established. Benson's repetition of particular words, phrases, and his use of rhyming couplets are complemented by images which delight and reinforce understanding of both language and content. The pictures emphasise the contrast in size between Pip and those she meets, while images showing her exploring her environment complement her internal musings on the subject of her diminutive size. Elsewhere, the word 'splash' is accompanied by a drawing of Pip splashing into the sea, a translation from one language to another which is bound to intrigue young minds.

In the three year old Pip, who plays, wonders and ponders, and plays some more, children will recognise a kindred spirit. As well as learning about imagery and language, by reading this book or by having it read to them, younger children will begin to understand something of the variety of life on this planet, and the role of difference, acceptance, and friendship in our lives.

[Tracey Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this very much. The moral of the story is that it's ok to be different and that playing with someone who is not the same is ok too. It is a gloomy looking book and would not have been chosen by me however, my daughter chose it. I found the pictures gloomy too. Perhaps this book would be more popular with parents if it was more colourful.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little penguin is a good read for reception children and may be good for teaching children that everyone is different.

[Amy Aldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet story. A tale of friendship with a lovely moral to encourage children not to worry about being different.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pip, an Adelie penguin, isn't as big as the Emperor penguins. That's OK, though, especially after she meets and befriends William the whale.

A Short and sweet penguin story that's great for toddlers or preschool. Includes basic science facts and child-friendly paneled illustrations.

I tried this on a whim as part of a penguin themed class* and the kids totally loved it. The song bits** worked better than I expected. The moment I finished reading the story, the girl who's bossy and/or grumpy about everything asked me to reread it with a giant smile. That turnabout kicked it up to four stars.

*Portis's A Penguin Story is another good Toddler/Pre/K one

**According to my storytelling professor, kids don't mind less than perfect voices. Just go for it. She's right. Trust it & it works.

[Breanna Shofner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little penguin, Pip discovers that she is much smaller than the other penguins. Pip becomes nervous when she is around the Emperors and decides to go to the ocean. At the ocean, Pip meets a whale and discovers that something even that big can be kind. She soon returns to her home and is no longer intimidated by the other penguins.

I would use this book inside a classroom to teach about different types of animals in the north pole compared to the south pole.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story about size! Pip worries she is small until she makes a new friend...

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable story about a 3 year old penguin.

[Zatika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Size isn't everything, Pip! A wonderful friendship story set in the Antartic.

[Elizabeth Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not find this book very interesting. Although I love penguins, this book was very boring and did not catch my interest at all.