Passionate about Penguins (About Animals) is a really cool book. The text by Owen Davey shows that they know their subject, know how to present it to keep your attention on said subject and knows how to make you want to know more. As an adult I was learning things and wanting to save all sorts of facts and was laughing about some of the more humorous elements. And there were POOP facts! If you have read any of my reviews you know that I was as happy as a, well, penguin building a poop nest!
Did you know that a colony of penguins was once located because we could see the results of the poop nests FROM OUTER SPACE? Move over Great Wall of China!
This and more polite facts, though there are some racy ones about the matting habits of penguins. I was blushing about the pebbles! And I thought all penguins were maters for life. Nope, not all of them. But there are types that will not tolerate “open relationships.” So, yes there are “mature themes” but done so I would have no problems giving to most kids at least five and up. (You can skip the mating stuff if you need to, or the poop stuff, but trust me, kids will LOVE it).
The illustrations are sweet. And while I usually prefer realistic images, or photographs, the combination of realistic but cartoon drawn images was a treat. They do not distract from the fact you are getting educational information as you have fun, and it looks like you are reading a more traditional story.
Everything from the tiny fairy penguin to the large emperor penguin, the kind of foods they eat, their creepy mouths, the way and why of swimming, to even how we can help protect them is included.