Penguin: A Tilly and Friends Book

I brought this for my son last summer, we just got another copy for a nice young lady's first birthday. This book really is wonderful. The pictures are bold and clear set against white background, and very funny. The story is charming and written with wit. I have read this book almost everyday for six months, sometimes several times a day and I still like it! That is valuable in a book, and not something I can say about many kids books. I have yet to meet a child who doesn't like it. A five year old told me last week about how good this book book is and we saw a grandpa laughing out loud the first time he read it. Buy it you won't be sorry!

I read this to my 2.5 year old last night (recommended reading after a bath, in jammies, snuggling outside) and she loved it. Although minimal in words, the pictures were very expressive, and my daughter could follow along easily. By the second reading, she told ME the story. Unlike the recommendation of starting with 4 year olds, definitely a hit with toddlers as well... although she didn't care for the brief appearance of the lion.

We enjoyed this adorable penguin during our penguin themed week in the classroom. Super cute!!

The boys LOVE it. The only 'scary' part is when the lion comes in to play. But still they love the overall story and help with reading and try to retell it later.

Penguin seems not to be able to talk. This won't surprise parents and other adult readers since he's a present in a box wrapped in polka dot paper. Ben, the recipient, rips off the paper, opens the box, and the action gets underway. "Hello Penguin" says Ben. That's when the problems start. Penguin, who looks like a fat tuxedoed bowling pin with undersized feet and an oversized beak, doesn't respond. Oh yeah. He also has a tail. It looks to be about the right size. Ben tries just about everything (including trying to feed Penguin to a passing lion) in the effort to elicit a response from his new friend. Nothing works. Finally, in sheer exasperation he shouts, "SAY SOMETHING!" This is when things spin out of control. Lion, who happens to be a shade of turquoise with a bright blue mane, is apparently startled by the loud noise and gobbles up Ben. After this, Lion looks quite contented, but suddenly Penguin looks mad. He glares at Lion, and then, most unexpectedly, bites him on the nose, securing Ben's release. This catharsis cures Penguin of his speech-impaired condition. He now waxes eloquent, in a rich and colorful pictorial language all his own. Polly Dunbar has written a delightful and very satisfying book, clearly deserving of its status as 2007 Booktrust Early Years Awards Winner (Pre-School Category).

We lost our first copy (left it on the airplane, I think), and needed to have it back. It is predictable without being boring and has some very silly spots. It is an easy book to initiate interaction with your child.

Excelent and funny book for kids beetwen 1 and 5 year, more or less. One child find a penguin, who makes nothing untill...something happen.

Great story that amplifies a child's imagination and reinforces that true friends are always there.

my young child loves this book because of its easy interesting story telling and cute illustration. it is about a boy who receives a penguin as a gift but penguin does not talk and that makes the boy frustrated till penguin shows up for saving him without saying a word and that seems to say alot.

Super cute!

Lovely and tender book for toddlers. My 2 years old son loves it and we imitate the different moments of the story. Beautifully written, the pictures are very sweet and the penguin is to fall for! Also, good to show kids not to shout ;)

Es un libro muy bonito y sencillo. Ideal para los más pequeños y a mi hija le encanta. Todos los libros de esta colección son muy recomendables.

Love this. My son has enjoyed Penguin from the age of about 6 months. Adults will like the story (not too inane, as many baby books can be) and the illustrations are lovely - same artist as the "Tilly & Friends" books (which is now a cartoon on CBeebies). Gentle, lovely but with enough wit to be enjoyable to readers of all ages!