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Penguin Huddle
A merry band of penguins ventures out of the Antarctic and into the adventure of a lifetime in a quirky, rainbow-bright tale of friendship and community building.
All day long the penguin colony plays and plays, and when the sun goes down and the night grows cold and dark, they squeeze and squish together ("penguin huddle!") to stay warm and snug. But one morning, after a freezing gale, the penguins find themselves stuck, frozen together like a giant penguin ice pop. When no one in the Antarctic can unstick them (“penguin muddle!”), Pipsqueak, the smallest penguin of all, leads his fellows out of their snowy home to a city across the sea in search of help. Whimsical adventures ensue in this global giggle-fest teeming with colorful details—a warm, wintry treat for fans of penguins, playful antics, and celebratory cuddles.
All day long the penguin colony plays and plays, and when the sun goes down and the night grows cold and dark, they squeeze and squish together ("penguin huddle!") to stay warm and snug. But one morning, after a freezing gale, the penguins find themselves stuck, frozen together like a giant penguin ice pop. When no one in the Antarctic can unstick them (“penguin muddle!”), Pipsqueak, the smallest penguin of all, leads his fellows out of their snowy home to a city across the sea in search of help. Whimsical adventures ensue in this global giggle-fest teeming with colorful details—a warm, wintry treat for fans of penguins, playful antics, and celebratory cuddles.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Ross Montgomery
33 books294 followersRoss Montgomery has worked as a pig farmer, a postman and a primary school teacher, so writing books was the next logical step. He spent his childhood reading everything he could get his hands on, from Jacqueline Wilson to Beano annuals, and it taught him pretty much everything that's worth knowing. If you looked through his pockets you'd find empty crisp packets, lists of things to do, and a bottle of that stuff you put on your nails to stop you biting them. He lives in London with his girlfriend, a cat called Fun Bobby, and a cactus on every available surface.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 30, 2023
Read this book for my toddler's bedtime. A fun and adventurous story! This book followed a bunch of penguins in the South Pole. They loved to play together such as ice fishing, snowball juggling, ice skating, etc. At night they liked to stand tight together also known as huddle just to keep warm. In the middle of the huddle is Pipsqueak, the baby penguin.
One night, it was windy and super cold. They stood huddled up like any other nights. Except the next day, they were frozen in almost like a ball with some feet outside the iceball and some inside. They tried different ways to separate themselves but they couldn't. They had a walrus and snow hares to help but still they were frozen in. The baby penguin came up with an idea to travel to another city. With help, they traveled to a city full of other animals. In this city, they stopped at different places to ask for help. On their way to the final destination to obtain help, they attracted a lot of attention and all of those animals followed them to ensure they receive the help they need. Forgot to mention that the illustrations are super fun and excellent!
A fun filled story. My toddler wanted to read again even though we have read it many times before.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review!
One night, it was windy and super cold. They stood huddled up like any other nights. Except the next day, they were frozen in almost like a ball with some feet outside the iceball and some inside. They tried different ways to separate themselves but they couldn't. They had a walrus and snow hares to help but still they were frozen in. The baby penguin came up with an idea to travel to another city. With help, they traveled to a city full of other animals. In this city, they stopped at different places to ask for help. On their way to the final destination to obtain help, they attracted a lot of attention and all of those animals followed them to ensure they receive the help they need. Forgot to mention that the illustrations are super fun and excellent!
A fun filled story. My toddler wanted to read again even though we have read it many times before.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read and review!
December 11, 2023
The penguins huddle together in the cold night to stay warm, but in the morning they are all frozen together! They ask their friends for help, but no amount of pushing or pulling can separate the penguins. They are completely stuck. They go to the big city and ask a special octopus doctor to help them get unfrozen.
This book is so hilarious! I loved every little animal character, and the funny story made me laugh. It was so sweet at the end when the littlest penguin just wanted a cuddle. Perfect opportunity to have a cuddle with your own little one as you read together!
The illustrations are so cute, and I loved the cartoony art style. The best thing about this book is the little snippets about animals in the background of each scene. There is a fish and oyster restaurant run by a pelican. The monkeys run the trolley service in the city. A group of lobsters have a salon where they cut hair with their sharp claws. There is a poster for "Magpie Jewelry, Because We All Deserve Shiny Things". There are tons of clever little things like this that made me laugh!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This book is so hilarious! I loved every little animal character, and the funny story made me laugh. It was so sweet at the end when the littlest penguin just wanted a cuddle. Perfect opportunity to have a cuddle with your own little one as you read together!
The illustrations are so cute, and I loved the cartoony art style. The best thing about this book is the little snippets about animals in the background of each scene. There is a fish and oyster restaurant run by a pelican. The monkeys run the trolley service in the city. A group of lobsters have a salon where they cut hair with their sharp claws. There is a poster for "Magpie Jewelry, Because We All Deserve Shiny Things". There are tons of clever little things like this that made me laugh!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
December 3, 2023
This made no sense, but it was so stinkin' cute, I didn't care.
December 19, 2022
Originele recensie: https://bazarow.com/recensie/alle-pin...
--
Voordat de pinguïn familie gaat slapen, komen ze altijd in een groepje samen. Aangezien daar waar zij leven het érg koud is, willen ze elkaar op deze manier warm houden.
Maar het is zo koud geweest ’s nachts dat wanneer de pinguïns op een dag wakker worden, ze aan elkaar vastgevroren zitten. Hoe komen ze nu weer los van elkaar?
--
Sfeervol verhaal op rijm
Elke avond blaast opa pinguïn op zijn fluitje om ervoor te zorgen dat iedereen bij elkaar komt. Wanneer de hele pinguïn familie ’s ochtends aan elkaar vastgeplakt blijkt te zitten vragen ze zich af: Wie kan ons helpen om weer los van elkaar te komen?
De beleving voor kinderen in dit verhaal is geweldig. De pinguïns gaan op avontuur om een oplossing te vinden en maken dan veel mee. Ross Montgomery heeft dit in rijm geschreven waardoor het geheel zeer sfeervol aanvoelt. De vertaling bij dit boek is erg goed gedaan, in het Nederlands rijmen de zinnen namelijk nog steeds, waarbij ze soepel in elkaar overlopen en het een mooi, meeslepend geheel is geworden.
Ross Montgomery is een Britse auteur die bekend staat om het gebruik van humor in zijn verhalen. Zo wordt er in Alle pinguïns op een kluitje ook veel humor gebruikt, waardoor kinderen regelmatig hardop zullen lachen. Montgomery heeft meerdere titels op zijn naam staan, waaronder Tien overheerlijke juffen en meesters dat ook vertaald door Thérese en Jacques Vriens.
Kleurrijke illustraties
Dit prachtige prentenboek is voor kinderen niet alleen heerlijk en grappig om naar te luisteren, de illustraties zijn ook werkelijk prachtig. Sarah Warburton heeft de illustraties bij dit verhaal ontwerpen en geven zeer goed weer wat de pinguïns allemaal meemaken. De tekeningen zijn kleurrijk en gedetailleerd, zo worden de gezichtsuitdrukkingen van de pinguïns ook goed vastgelegd, waardoor kinderen kunnen leren herkennen hoe de dieren zich voelen.
Sarah Warburton werkte ook mee aan Tien overheerlijke juffen en meesters, maar haar creatieve werken zijn ook in andere boeken terug te vinden. Zo is zij onder andere bekend van de illustraties in de Starfell serie.
Heerlijk winters voorleesverhaal
Alle pinguïns op een kluitje is een prachtig en heerlijk voorleesverhaal. Kinderen kunnen wegdromen bij de mooie zinnen en illustraties. Het leent zich perfect om voor te lezen in de winterse maanden, gezien het een sfeervol winters verhaal is. Het verhaal is hartverwarmend vanaf het begin, doordat de karakters elkaar elke avond opzoeken om elkaar warm te houden en zij daarna samen nadenken en op zoek gaan naar een oplossing. Het boek is zeker een aanrader voor kinderen tot ongeveer zes jaar.
--
Voordat de pinguïn familie gaat slapen, komen ze altijd in een groepje samen. Aangezien daar waar zij leven het érg koud is, willen ze elkaar op deze manier warm houden.
Maar het is zo koud geweest ’s nachts dat wanneer de pinguïns op een dag wakker worden, ze aan elkaar vastgevroren zitten. Hoe komen ze nu weer los van elkaar?
--
Sfeervol verhaal op rijm
Elke avond blaast opa pinguïn op zijn fluitje om ervoor te zorgen dat iedereen bij elkaar komt. Wanneer de hele pinguïn familie ’s ochtends aan elkaar vastgeplakt blijkt te zitten vragen ze zich af: Wie kan ons helpen om weer los van elkaar te komen?
De beleving voor kinderen in dit verhaal is geweldig. De pinguïns gaan op avontuur om een oplossing te vinden en maken dan veel mee. Ross Montgomery heeft dit in rijm geschreven waardoor het geheel zeer sfeervol aanvoelt. De vertaling bij dit boek is erg goed gedaan, in het Nederlands rijmen de zinnen namelijk nog steeds, waarbij ze soepel in elkaar overlopen en het een mooi, meeslepend geheel is geworden.
Ross Montgomery is een Britse auteur die bekend staat om het gebruik van humor in zijn verhalen. Zo wordt er in Alle pinguïns op een kluitje ook veel humor gebruikt, waardoor kinderen regelmatig hardop zullen lachen. Montgomery heeft meerdere titels op zijn naam staan, waaronder Tien overheerlijke juffen en meesters dat ook vertaald door Thérese en Jacques Vriens.
Kleurrijke illustraties
Dit prachtige prentenboek is voor kinderen niet alleen heerlijk en grappig om naar te luisteren, de illustraties zijn ook werkelijk prachtig. Sarah Warburton heeft de illustraties bij dit verhaal ontwerpen en geven zeer goed weer wat de pinguïns allemaal meemaken. De tekeningen zijn kleurrijk en gedetailleerd, zo worden de gezichtsuitdrukkingen van de pinguïns ook goed vastgelegd, waardoor kinderen kunnen leren herkennen hoe de dieren zich voelen.
Sarah Warburton werkte ook mee aan Tien overheerlijke juffen en meesters, maar haar creatieve werken zijn ook in andere boeken terug te vinden. Zo is zij onder andere bekend van de illustraties in de Starfell serie.
Heerlijk winters voorleesverhaal
Alle pinguïns op een kluitje is een prachtig en heerlijk voorleesverhaal. Kinderen kunnen wegdromen bij de mooie zinnen en illustraties. Het leent zich perfect om voor te lezen in de winterse maanden, gezien het een sfeervol winters verhaal is. Het verhaal is hartverwarmend vanaf het begin, doordat de karakters elkaar elke avond opzoeken om elkaar warm te houden en zij daarna samen nadenken en op zoek gaan naar een oplossing. Het boek is zeker een aanrader voor kinderen tot ongeveer zes jaar.
December 30, 2022
This is such a brilliant and funny story with such amazing illustrations! The penguins spend their days in the South Pole enjoying doing various activities like ice skating and fishing, and then spend the nights in a penguin huddle. But one night when the wind is extra strong, the group get frozen in their huddle and can’t separate themselves. Little Pipsqueak, the smallest of the penguins in the huddle has an idea of how they can get free, and the group ask for help from their neighbouring animals. But it’s soon clear that they will need more than just a few pushes and pulls to break the ice, and the penguins will have to go on a long journey to find some help to get free. ‘Penguin Huddle’ in hardback is a bit wider than A4 in size and is filled with thick glossy pages of text and some really brilliant and funny illustrations.
I love this story though I had no idea it would take the penguins on a journey out of the South Pole and to a city. I love what happens though as they seek out help from various animals to help separate them from their squished huddle. I don’t want to give away what happens, but the story is brilliant and the illustrations really add to this showing so many wonderful and funny details throughout!
I really love the pictures in this book and it’s kept me and my family looking at this book for ages, just to discover all the clever details in each picture. There are so many different animals the penguins come across (spot the polar bear, for example, which is clearly on holiday!), and I like how we later see all of the different animals in the city and so many fun details like what all the animals are doing, the signs you can see and read and all the various animals that you see joining the huddle as they all try to help the penguins get free. The illustrations alone will keep you entertained for ages as you can spend a very long time soaking up all the details of each page and I just love books like this. The end pages of the book on the inside front and back covers have some additional images of the penguins getting up to all sorts of activities too which is also fun to see.
The story has a lovely ending, one that is sweet, and I love the last double page with the picture of all the animals on it and what they are doing. The story is brilliant, and something I didn’t expect, which is good as I thought the story would only take place in the South Pole, but this is such a fun book and so entertaining and funny throughout, and I’m sure plenty of children will enjoy reading this again and again and looking over and over at all the images and the details too!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy
I love this story though I had no idea it would take the penguins on a journey out of the South Pole and to a city. I love what happens though as they seek out help from various animals to help separate them from their squished huddle. I don’t want to give away what happens, but the story is brilliant and the illustrations really add to this showing so many wonderful and funny details throughout!
I really love the pictures in this book and it’s kept me and my family looking at this book for ages, just to discover all the clever details in each picture. There are so many different animals the penguins come across (spot the polar bear, for example, which is clearly on holiday!), and I like how we later see all of the different animals in the city and so many fun details like what all the animals are doing, the signs you can see and read and all the various animals that you see joining the huddle as they all try to help the penguins get free. The illustrations alone will keep you entertained for ages as you can spend a very long time soaking up all the details of each page and I just love books like this. The end pages of the book on the inside front and back covers have some additional images of the penguins getting up to all sorts of activities too which is also fun to see.
The story has a lovely ending, one that is sweet, and I love the last double page with the picture of all the animals on it and what they are doing. The story is brilliant, and something I didn’t expect, which is good as I thought the story would only take place in the South Pole, but this is such a fun book and so entertaining and funny throughout, and I’m sure plenty of children will enjoy reading this again and again and looking over and over at all the images and the details too!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy
October 19, 2025
I've been thinking a lot about community, how important it is in such a wide variety of situations, and the many different forms it takes.
And by far one of the best and most entertaining books about community and coming together (in this case rather literally and hilariously) that I've read in the last few years is the delightful "Penguin Huddle" (2023).
With fabulously kinetic, bright, totally engaging artwork, this is the unlikely and hilarious adventure of a group of penguins who, in the process of their usual nightly huddle for coziness as they sleep, accidentally get frozen together like a "giant penguin ice pop". 😂
With neither they nor their South Pole neighbours able to come up with a solution, a very, very silly adventure ensues, as they take off for the big city - still in a giant, frozen penguin huddle - to seek assistance.
The result is a must-have story for any child's bookshelf, a tale of community and mutual help in a variety of forms, that is told with great humour (and some fun wordplay) and visual silliness.
And by far one of the best and most entertaining books about community and coming together (in this case rather literally and hilariously) that I've read in the last few years is the delightful "Penguin Huddle" (2023).
With fabulously kinetic, bright, totally engaging artwork, this is the unlikely and hilarious adventure of a group of penguins who, in the process of their usual nightly huddle for coziness as they sleep, accidentally get frozen together like a "giant penguin ice pop". 😂
With neither they nor their South Pole neighbours able to come up with a solution, a very, very silly adventure ensues, as they take off for the big city - still in a giant, frozen penguin huddle - to seek assistance.
The result is a must-have story for any child's bookshelf, a tale of community and mutual help in a variety of forms, that is told with great humour (and some fun wordplay) and visual silliness.
December 16, 2022
Now listen - I like my friends and family perfectly well, but the thought of being stuck to them indefinitely isn't my idea of a fun time. In Penguin Huddle, Ross Mongomery mixes a little well known fact about penguins - it's bloody cold at night so they need to have a big group hug/huddle to stay warm - and throws in a dash of fiction with giant icicles forming between them so they're literally stuck/frozen together!
A little plan to unthaw, involving a lot of rolling down snowy hills and a lot of help from other animal-kind, helps sort this problem right out for our frozen friends.
I liked it a lot - it was super cute, the illustrations were fun and I did really appreciate a little bit of truth for children to learn about penguins mixed in with all the fun. Perhaps a little bit silly (pretty sure lions and penguins don't mix!), but who cares?!
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
A little plan to unthaw, involving a lot of rolling down snowy hills and a lot of help from other animal-kind, helps sort this problem right out for our frozen friends.
I liked it a lot - it was super cute, the illustrations were fun and I did really appreciate a little bit of truth for children to learn about penguins mixed in with all the fun. Perhaps a little bit silly (pretty sure lions and penguins don't mix!), but who cares?!
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 21, 2024From Amazon:
A merry band of penguins ventures out of the Antarctic and into the adventure of a lifetime in a quirky, rainbow-bright tale of friendship and community building.
All day long the penguin colony plays and plays, and when the sun goes down and the night grows cold and dark, they squeeze and squish together (“penguin huddle!”) to stay warm and snug. But one morning, after a freezing gale, the penguins find themselves stuck, frozen together like a giant penguin ice pop. When no one in the Antarctic can unstick them (“penguin muddle!”), Pipsqueak, the smallest penguin of all, leads his fellows out of their snowy home to a city across the sea in search of help. Whimsical adventures ensue in this global giggle-fest teeming with colorful details—a warm, wintry treat for fans of penguins, playful antics, and celebratory cuddles.
A merry band of penguins ventures out of the Antarctic and into the adventure of a lifetime in a quirky, rainbow-bright tale of friendship and community building.
All day long the penguin colony plays and plays, and when the sun goes down and the night grows cold and dark, they squeeze and squish together (“penguin huddle!”) to stay warm and snug. But one morning, after a freezing gale, the penguins find themselves stuck, frozen together like a giant penguin ice pop. When no one in the Antarctic can unstick them (“penguin muddle!”), Pipsqueak, the smallest penguin of all, leads his fellows out of their snowy home to a city across the sea in search of help. Whimsical adventures ensue in this global giggle-fest teeming with colorful details—a warm, wintry treat for fans of penguins, playful antics, and celebratory cuddles.
December 16, 2022
Oh wow, this book is so funny, kids will love it.
One night whilst huddled together the group of penguins become stuck. They are frozen to one another and can't unstick themselves.
They ask the local wildlife for help but they fail, so they travel, on an iceberg, to a city full of animals and ask them to help but after trying the barber, bowling alley and even the baker (to warm them up), nothing works until they spot a poster and have an idea.
This book is so cute, enjoyable and amusing. Not only is the text funny the illustrations are too.
This is a book that I can see being read over and over again. It would make a fabulous bedtime story too.
One night whilst huddled together the group of penguins become stuck. They are frozen to one another and can't unstick themselves.
They ask the local wildlife for help but they fail, so they travel, on an iceberg, to a city full of animals and ask them to help but after trying the barber, bowling alley and even the baker (to warm them up), nothing works until they spot a poster and have an idea.
This book is so cute, enjoyable and amusing. Not only is the text funny the illustrations are too.
This is a book that I can see being read over and over again. It would make a fabulous bedtime story too.
picture-books
January 16, 2025Date: 12.16.24
Attendees: 23
Theme: Winter
Introduction and announcements: Let’s All do a Little Clapping
Book one: Wait, Rest, Pause Dormancy in Nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Song/rhyme/game one: The Mittens on my Hands
Book two: Penguin Huddle by Ross Montgomery
Song/rhyme/game two: Doin’ the Penguin by Sesame Street
Book three: Bear Can’t Sleep by Karma Wilson
Song/ rhyme/ game three: Hot Chocolate by Stephanie Leavell
Activity: Free Play
Attendees: 23
Theme: Winter
Introduction and announcements: Let’s All do a Little Clapping
Book one: Wait, Rest, Pause Dormancy in Nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Song/rhyme/game one: The Mittens on my Hands
Book two: Penguin Huddle by Ross Montgomery
Song/rhyme/game two: Doin’ the Penguin by Sesame Street
Book three: Bear Can’t Sleep by Karma Wilson
Song/ rhyme/ game three: Hot Chocolate by Stephanie Leavell
Activity: Free Play
December 13, 2023
PENGUIN HUDDLE is absolutely hilarious. The story itself - a group of penguins huddle together for warmth every night but find one more than they're stuck together - is a funny premise. The illustrations take it over the top into laugh out loud hilarity. This is so absurd in the best kind of way and ends with a heartwarming cuddle.
November 15, 2023
A cute story that misses its mark as soon as the huddle starts looking for a way to get unstuck. The moment they moved to warmer temps they would have melted -- WAAAAAAAAAAY before they did. But still, for 2-year-old listeners, it's a cute story.
November 20, 2023
This is a very cute and silly penguin adventure of a huddle of penguins who become frozen together and have to find a way to get unstuck. The illustrations are cute and there are lots of different fun animals.
September 14, 2024
This is a cute story for Preschool and under. The illustrations really make this book fun. It's fun to see all of the animals. My child said the illustrations reminded them of the movies Sing and Zootopia.
December 1, 2024
Дуже мила невелика книжечка про зграю пінгвінів, які одного разу, в дуже холодну ніч, змерзлими разом. Тут і про подорожі, і про друзів. А головне, що вона така затишна, дещо кумедна і закінчується так, що хочеться обійняти всіх навколо.
Рекомендую для обнімальних читань :)
Рекомендую для обнімальних читань :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
A sweet story about how penguins huddle to stay warm and how they try to solve the problem of accidentally getting frozen in their huddle. Pipsqueak is relatable as the child who misses the togetherness once the huddle is thawed. Hilarious illustrations.
December 25, 2022
Rather cute.
Want to read
April 15, 2023Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
October 22, 2023
Particularly fun illustrations!
October 30, 2023
An amusing story with adorable illustrations!
December 22, 2023
Mom and dad liked this one more than the three year old did. The artwork was great. Fun rhymes and word choices. Good moral at the end. What’s not to like?!
January 9, 2024
A cute lil animal story with a similar vibe to Zootopia (as far as it being a village of animals XD)
Read
January 30, 2024a delightful family hug story
July 1, 2024
Sadly, I didn't really get it. by the time they went up north a bit, the ice would have melted? And animals in a big city, that's not really what it looks like? not very realistic.
November 24, 2024
So stinkin adorable!
December 19, 2024
I thought this book was adorable. Some fun & creative (and a few times corny) play on words with lots of rhyming, making for a fun read aloud. A cute message at the end!
December 26, 2024
Delightful fun, has Richard Scary-esque illustrations, a good strong rhyming word that connects it.
December 26, 2024
Who doesn't love penguins??? I think my storytime kids will enjoy this book about togetherness!
January 22, 2025
Students will love this book, a charming read-aloud.
October 9, 2025
Grappig, en niet té voorspelbaar.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews