What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this 1939 Newbery honor winner has
captivated generations of readers. There's a little Mr. Popper
in every reader, particularly those ages 5-8 years, full of
questions about the world. He's a responsive father, a loving
partner to his wife, a dutiful self-employed painter -- but
mostly a quirky individual who dreams of traveling the world.
It's this interest and motivation that eventually lands him
with twelve Adelie penguins. In the end when facing a moral
dilemma, Mr. Popper becomes a true hero. Vivid imagery, clever
word plays, and funny characters that border on the absurd have
made this book a popular choice in for kids in classrooms and
at home.
Families who read this book can talk about how definition of family has changed since the 1930s. Mr. and Mrs. Popper have very clear roles in this family. What are they? Would they have the same roles today or how would they differ? Parents can point out how Mr. Popper received the penguins by taking the initiate -- that is, by writing the letter to Admiral Drake. Parents can also talk about the Adelie penguin and help kids look up up this type and other types of penguins on the Internet or at the library.
Common Sense Media Review
MR POPPER'S PENGUINS is one of those classic childhood books
that kids always remembers and even ranks up there with
Charlotte's
Web
and
James and the Giant Peach. The chapterbook's witty
dialogue (albeit with dated language), clever characters, and
an ethical predicament make this book as enjoyable today as in
the 1930s. In fact, many teachers today use it as part of their
language arts curriculum.
Mr. Poppers Penguins is a good fit for most 1st- and
2nd-grade readers, and can also be read aloud to
kindergartners.
Though the book was written in 1938, Mr. Popper was ahead of his time for progressive parenting, letting his kids leave school to help him take the penguin act on the road. He also treats his wife with respect, giving her voice equal status in the household. Mostly though, kids will see through this funny, quirky man that learning never stops, and sometimes, by asking questions, great things happen.
Mirroring the partnership of Mr. and Mrs. Popper, Richard Atwater got sick and was unable to finish the book, so his wife, Florence, picked up where he left off. Also worthy of noting are the delightful ink illustrations of Robert Lawson who also won a Newbery Medal for Rabbit Hill.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
