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Penguin
A quirky new tale from a rising talent — in which a bossy little boy receives a surprising comeuppance.
When Ben rips open his present, he finds a penguin inside. "Hello, Penguin!" he says. "What shall we play?" But Penguin says nothing. Even when Ben tickles its belly, sings a funny song, does a dizzy dance, stands on his head, sticks out his tongue, and resorts to increasingly rude and drastic measures, Penguin makes no response. What will it take for Penguin to say something — or for Ben to understand what Penguin has to say? Fresh, spare illustrations bring whimsy to this wonderful tale, in which a silent Penguin turns marvelously eloquent and a little boy finally gets his heart’s desire.
When Ben rips open his present, he finds a penguin inside. "Hello, Penguin!" he says. "What shall we play?" But Penguin says nothing. Even when Ben tickles its belly, sings a funny song, does a dizzy dance, stands on his head, sticks out his tongue, and resorts to increasingly rude and drastic measures, Penguin makes no response. What will it take for Penguin to say something — or for Ben to understand what Penguin has to say? Fresh, spare illustrations bring whimsy to this wonderful tale, in which a silent Penguin turns marvelously eloquent and a little boy finally gets his heart’s desire.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
12 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
Polly Dunbar
81 books51 followersPolly Dunbar is the author-illustrator of many children’s books, including DOG BLUE, PENGUIN, and six stories featuring Tilly and Friends. She is also the illustrator of David Almond’s MY DAD'S A BIRDMAN. Polly Dunbar lives in Brighton, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
July 30, 2017
An adorable book to delve yourself in. It is hardly a minute read, but this duration would be one memorable time for you.
April 10, 2021
Jan 19, 2020
That was excellent: an expectation was created and then satisfied in an unusual way. Must read all the Polly Dunbar books soon!
***
Apr 10, 2021
More thoughts to come on the art, and of Ben, and of other books by Dunbar
***
Library copy
***
That was excellent: an expectation was created and then satisfied in an unusual way. Must read all the Polly Dunbar books soon!
***
Apr 10, 2021
More thoughts to come on the art, and of Ben, and of other books by Dunbar
***
Library copy
***
February 15, 2017
A 30-second read!
And good 30 seconds! :)
For a quick relief from solving equations or writing codes or whatever are the jobs you really like to do but have become bored after doing them sometime.
Happy reading! :)
And good 30 seconds! :)
For a quick relief from solving equations or writing codes or whatever are the jobs you really like to do but have become bored after doing them sometime.
Happy reading! :)
January 3, 2016
Having been given a set of Penguin book ends for Christmas and having always been an avid Penguin book collector, when I saw a book called 'Penguin' I just had to have it.
And speaking of presents, Ben received a well wrapped present and, undoing it he discovered a penguin inside. He greeted the penguin, 'Hello Penguin!' But the penguin did not speak.
Ben tried again, 'What shall we play', he said holding up the penguin. When there was no reply he resorted to 'Can't you talk?' The penguin still said nothing.
Ben then tickled the penguin, he did not laugh; Ben pulled his funniest face, the penguin did not laugh; Ben put on a happy hat and sang a silly song and did a dizzy dance, the penguin was still poker-faced and said nothing.
Ben stood on his head, prodded penguin, blew a raspberry, made fun of penguin and even imitated penguin. But the penguin still said nothing.
Ben studiously ignored penguin and penguin in return ignored Ben. So Ben fired penguin into outer space but then he came back to earth without a word.
Amazingly a passing lion came along and Ben tried to feed penguin to it but the lion did not want to eat penguin. Ben got very upset but penguin still said nothing. In desperation Ben shouted at the top of his voice, 'Say something'. And while penguin said nothing the lion felt that Ben was too noisy and ate him!
While the lion was licking his lips in contentment, penguin went up to the lion and bit him very hard on the nose. 'Ow!' said the lion, spitting Ben out as Ben screamed 'Wow!'
Penguin then spoke but his words come out as pictures but it seems that he was re-living and enjoying everything that Ben had previously said. And Ben and penguin ended up hugging each other, very much in love!
Charming!
And speaking of presents, Ben received a well wrapped present and, undoing it he discovered a penguin inside. He greeted the penguin, 'Hello Penguin!' But the penguin did not speak.
Ben tried again, 'What shall we play', he said holding up the penguin. When there was no reply he resorted to 'Can't you talk?' The penguin still said nothing.
Ben then tickled the penguin, he did not laugh; Ben pulled his funniest face, the penguin did not laugh; Ben put on a happy hat and sang a silly song and did a dizzy dance, the penguin was still poker-faced and said nothing.
Ben stood on his head, prodded penguin, blew a raspberry, made fun of penguin and even imitated penguin. But the penguin still said nothing.
Ben studiously ignored penguin and penguin in return ignored Ben. So Ben fired penguin into outer space but then he came back to earth without a word.
Amazingly a passing lion came along and Ben tried to feed penguin to it but the lion did not want to eat penguin. Ben got very upset but penguin still said nothing. In desperation Ben shouted at the top of his voice, 'Say something'. And while penguin said nothing the lion felt that Ben was too noisy and ate him!
While the lion was licking his lips in contentment, penguin went up to the lion and bit him very hard on the nose. 'Ow!' said the lion, spitting Ben out as Ben screamed 'Wow!'
Penguin then spoke but his words come out as pictures but it seems that he was re-living and enjoying everything that Ben had previously said. And Ben and penguin ended up hugging each other, very much in love!
Charming!
December 11, 2012
This book is an instant classic. The kids in my class loved it, and I loved it, too. The drawings are charming and full of personality, and the text is simple but effective, packing a rhythmic punch. PENGUIN is the story of an outgoing boy who is given a reticent penguin as a present. The penguin may be a man of few words, but he proves to be a loyal friend and not the least timid. The story works nicely as either a fantasy (the penguin is a real animal) or as a realistic portrait of Ben's imagination (the penguin is just a doll), and on the latter level it is a heartwarming depiction of the bond between children and their toys. Some of the reviews--and the plot synopsis, as well--paint Ben as being a bad or a "bossy" kid, and one of the reviews even suggests that he should receive his "comeuppance" in the end. I don't see it that way at all. Ben's a good kid, a realistic kid, who just wants this new "person" in his life to be his friend and to acknowledge said friendship by, say, laughing at his funny faces. There's nothing rotten about that. The story is more about a personality clash between an oddball bird and a gregarious little boy. The boy is willing to accept a stranger's idiosyncrasies, and vice versa. I loved it, and my kids wanted me to read it to them again and again, which--as is rarely the case--I actually did.
March 4, 2020
Hilarious! Used in penguin-themed family storytime on 3/2/20. True to form, the dads laughed the hardest. :)
February 1, 2022
کسانی که تجربه برخورد با کودک مبتلا به اتیسم دارند می گویند این کتاب درباره اتیسم است.
September 11, 2007
One of my favorites of 2007!
June 18, 2020
Penguin is a lovely story about a little boy called Ben who wants his penguin to talk to him. He gets frustrated which is a feeling young children are likely to be familiar with and then penguin saves Ben. At the end of the book penguin relays the story in the form of pictures which could be good for young children to use as prompts to see if they are able to retell the story themselves. I’d use this book with FS and possibly year 1 children.
March 29, 2024
The book was engaging at the beginning; however, it got quite weird, and the ending was unsatisfying. I was expecting more substance from the penguin when he finally spoke.
In short, kids read this, but it is not the goat.
In short, kids read this, but it is not the goat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2021
I loved this little book! I already am a big fan of penguins and books about penguins. I read this to a dear little 2-year-old and he was mesmerized by the story & the illustrations. I'm sure I'll read it many times again!
December 2, 2021
Amaya was not a fan of this one.
June 1, 2012
For his birthday Ben got Penguin. “Hello, Penguin!” said Ben. Penguin said nothing. Ben was determined to get Penguin to speak, so he tickled and danced and stood on his head. Penguin said nothing. Ben put Penguin on a rocket and shot him to outer space, but Penguin came back to earth as silent as before. Finally, Ben tried to feed Penguin to a passing blue lion. Unfortunately, the lion decided to eat Ben because he was being so noisy. But Penguin came to Ben’s rescue. And then Penguin spoke to Ben, a long monologue of images. And Ben was happy.
The text of this charming book is simple and punctuated by the frequent refrain, “Penguin said nothing.” The blue lion seems to come out of nowhere, but I tend to think that this story has been created by Ben as he plays with his toys and that the lion is another toy. The mixed media illustrations place the characters against blank white pages, bringing the focus onto the interaction between Ben and Penguin. Ben is a lively little toddler, his round tummy sticking out slightly from his bright green pajamas, and Dunbar is able to show the full range of his toddler behaviors, from making faces to yelling until he’s red in the face.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
The text of this charming book is simple and punctuated by the frequent refrain, “Penguin said nothing.” The blue lion seems to come out of nowhere, but I tend to think that this story has been created by Ben as he plays with his toys and that the lion is another toy. The mixed media illustrations place the characters against blank white pages, bringing the focus onto the interaction between Ben and Penguin. Ben is a lively little toddler, his round tummy sticking out slightly from his bright green pajamas, and Dunbar is able to show the full range of his toddler behaviors, from making faces to yelling until he’s red in the face.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
February 1, 2022
This book had so much unexpected twists!
You first meet Ben and Penguin and of course Ben being a child wants to play with the penguin, but the penguin does not say what he wants to do.
This leaves Ben disorientated, making him going on wild challenge to make the penguin talk.
After doing the classics methods of trying to make someone laugh and still have no reaction, Ben’s methods become… violent!!
First the penguin was flown to space on a rocket alone and I quote what happens next “Penguin came back to Earth without a word”
Next Ben meets a lion in the middle of nowhere and then… tries to make the lion eat our dear penguin.
The lion did not want to eat Penguin, so instead he eats Ben, just after Ben screams for the penguin to speak. WHAT A SHOCKER!!
Penguin finally reacts and bites the lion on the nose, which makes him spit out Ben.
Now penguin tells Ben… everything.
Though it was enjoyable, Ben was rather annoying and I do not blame the lion.
3 Stars
You first meet Ben and Penguin and of course Ben being a child wants to play with the penguin, but the penguin does not say what he wants to do.
This leaves Ben disorientated, making him going on wild challenge to make the penguin talk.
After doing the classics methods of trying to make someone laugh and still have no reaction, Ben’s methods become… violent!!
First the penguin was flown to space on a rocket alone and I quote what happens next “Penguin came back to Earth without a word”
Next Ben meets a lion in the middle of nowhere and then… tries to make the lion eat our dear penguin.
The lion did not want to eat Penguin, so instead he eats Ben, just after Ben screams for the penguin to speak. WHAT A SHOCKER!!
Penguin finally reacts and bites the lion on the nose, which makes him spit out Ben.
Now penguin tells Ben… everything.
Though it was enjoyable, Ben was rather annoying and I do not blame the lion.
3 Stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2011
This is a hilarious story about a little boy who is frustrated with is mute penguin. Well, he thinks his penguin is mute until something extraordinary happens. The antics that Ben, the little boy, goes through to get his pet Penguin to speak will make adults smile and little ones chuckle as they recognize themselves. (Imagine all of the "I would do this..." statements this book will get from any child or group of children you read it to.)
The writing and the illustrations are spare, but pack a wallop. Polly Dunbar used vibrantly colored mixed media to create the illustrations. The lion in the story (yes, there's a lion) is made with a material that almost beckons you to touch.
I can't wait to read this book during a story time! Definitely good for children 5 years and up! Also, good for children who need help in matching facial expressions to emotions.
The writing and the illustrations are spare, but pack a wallop. Polly Dunbar used vibrantly colored mixed media to create the illustrations. The lion in the story (yes, there's a lion) is made with a material that almost beckons you to touch.
I can't wait to read this book during a story time! Definitely good for children 5 years and up! Also, good for children who need help in matching facial expressions to emotions.
March 14, 2012
This is a very strange story about a little boy who receives a penguin for a pet and is very frustrated when the penguin does not respond to him in any way, despite his very creative efforts. The ending is quite sweet and interesting and while I liked the story, I thought that a similar story, Princess Penelope's Parrot, had a more satisfying and appropriate ending (or perhaps I just like it when naughty children get their comeuppance.)
We enjoyed reading this story together and with its short narrative and simple illustrations, it is a perfect storytime book for younger children (as long as they are not afraid of blue lions.)
We enjoyed reading this story together and with its short narrative and simple illustrations, it is a perfect storytime book for younger children (as long as they are not afraid of blue lions.)
April 21, 2009
I loved this book. I thought it was very creative, entertaining, and had many unexpected elements. The illustrations used where excellent. They really helped more the story along and hold the interest of the reader. This story is about a little boy who gets a toy penguin for a present. He does everything possible for the penguin to play with him but the penguin just sits there. Then out of no where the small boy gets eaten by a blue lion!! Well the toy penguin go to the boys rescue or will he continue to do nothing at all.
February 25, 2014
First off, I have a kid named Ben, so having the main character's name be Ben really made it fun for my kids. This really entertained my 3-5 yr old kids, which doesn't happen often in non-rhyming books. The sentences are short and easy and the pictures are simple yet charming. There are funny things that appeal to kids (a lion eats a boy because he was yelling, but penguin saves the day) and the overall message is sweet that you can be friends even if you don't talk like each other. As a parent of a child with Autism, I find such a message very heartwarming.
Read
August 3, 2011So cute!! Took Zack to a library storytime this morning and they read this so we had to check it out and read again. Precious illustrations - story about a boy who tries to get a penquin to talk but the penguin remains silent ... all the while retaining exactly what the little boy, Ben, is saying to him. Great ending. Picture books that are quirky and more than your average plot like this are a true delight.
November 9, 2012
A story about a little boy called Ben who received a Penguin for a present. Ben tries many different ways to get Penguin to speak to him with no joy until eventually, with a little twist at the end, he succeeds.
A simple, repetitive story with lovely illustrations that children will warm to.
Age range: 4-6
A good story to read to young children or to have on a class bookshelf.
A simple, repetitive story with lovely illustrations that children will warm to.
Age range: 4-6
A good story to read to young children or to have on a class bookshelf.
January 24, 2015
Both the pictures and the narration were amazing..
The shock at the end when Ben is eaten by the lion is just stunning, but it's solved well ;)
Great..
The shock at the end when Ben is eaten by the lion is just stunning, but it's solved well ;)
Great..
February 3, 2016
OK. Might be a little disturbing because the boy tries to feed his penguin to a lion and then the lion eats the boy.
April 30, 2017
Hulvattoman hauska minimalistinen kirja. Näin erikoisia pitäisi löytää lisää.
November 14, 2007
A boy gets frustrated with his friend penguin. It's just a lack of communication.
April 23, 2018
Penguin is my favourite animal, so when I saw this book at work, I can't help myself but borrow it.
It's a beautiful picture book about a boy who received a penguin as his present. The boy tried very hard to get the penguin talking, but no matter whatever tricks he did, the penguin was still very quiet. When the boy got too noisy making the penguin to say something, he was eaten by a lion. And this is when the penguin showed its love for the boy. It bit the lion very hard on the nose, and the lion released the boy. The penguin said something for the first time in the story, and that something is everything the boy did to it and how it felt.
A nice story to let kids know more about how different people communicate differently. Some passionate ones are eager to spill everything, while some relatively reserved ones only show their feelings and thoughts at certain moments. No right or wrong, it's just different styles, and we shouldn't feel bad about being either style.
It's a beautiful picture book about a boy who received a penguin as his present. The boy tried very hard to get the penguin talking, but no matter whatever tricks he did, the penguin was still very quiet. When the boy got too noisy making the penguin to say something, he was eaten by a lion. And this is when the penguin showed its love for the boy. It bit the lion very hard on the nose, and the lion released the boy. The penguin said something for the first time in the story, and that something is everything the boy did to it and how it felt.
A nice story to let kids know more about how different people communicate differently. Some passionate ones are eager to spill everything, while some relatively reserved ones only show their feelings and thoughts at certain moments. No right or wrong, it's just different styles, and we shouldn't feel bad about being either style.
February 10, 2025
A boy receives a pet penguin that he then harangs in an attempt to get it to make a sound.
After being given a penguin as a present, a boy tries to get it to make a noise. He begins by coaxing and then by trying to amuse it, but he quickly turns to bullying still with no effect.
A lion appears and swallows the boy whole. The penguin, who has apparently bonded with the boy, bites the lion on the noise, causing the lion spits the boy out.
The penguin then has a pictographic speech bubble that tells the story of everything that happened since he was given to the boy as a gift, and the penguin and the boy become friends.
This book is a reminiscent of Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue.
After being given a penguin as a present, a boy tries to get it to make a noise. He begins by coaxing and then by trying to amuse it, but he quickly turns to bullying still with no effect.
A lion appears and swallows the boy whole. The penguin, who has apparently bonded with the boy, bites the lion on the noise, causing the lion spits the boy out.
The penguin then has a pictographic speech bubble that tells the story of everything that happened since he was given to the boy as a gift, and the penguin and the boy become friends.
This book is a reminiscent of Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue.
September 24, 2019
Ben tries everything to get Penguin to talk--even trying to feed him to a passing lion!--but Penguin doesn't do anything until the lion eats Ben for being too noisy (I snorted aloud at this). Penguin bites lion on the nose (also a very amusing illustration), and when Ben is returned he tells Ben everything in one big speech bubble of cute crafts-made-by-a-child-type illustrations. Turns out Penguin loves Ben very much, and Ben loves Penguin too! I liked that both the illustrations and the text were simple.
On an unimportant note, I find it a little weird that Penguin was so okay with being offered to a lion as a snack, but I guess since Ben is the one who actually got eaten all is forgiven?
On an unimportant note, I find it a little weird that Penguin was so okay with being offered to a lion as a snack, but I guess since Ben is the one who actually got eaten all is forgiven?
July 4, 2022
Oddly enough this is a fine companion to Shaun Tan’s Eric, with a very similar theme of strange visitor whose lack of response causes some distress to the host but finally it’s revealed the level of joy both Penguin and Eric had in their experiences. It’s also, quietly, a very interesting book about the autistic spectrum with Penguin’s lack of ability to quite match the boy’s approaches coming across as standoffish when really it’s shyness or lack of confidence in how to express itself. This reading for me is strengthened by how Penguin finally communicates those feelings: understandable by the boy but not in a recognisable language (Penguin uses images to express this). It’s a very neat trick
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews