Author: Sandra Markle

Illustrator: Alan Marks

Publisher: Charlesbridge

Product: Book (32 pages)

Cost: $23.95

Ages: 4 to 8

This illustrated story begins one spring in Antarctica when a female emperor penguin lays her first egg. At first, the mother keeps the egg warm, but soon the father takes over. The mother has another job to do. Along with the other females in the colony, she begins a long journey to the sea. There, she will feed for months, before returning with a belly full of food for her newly hatched chick. Beautiful watercolour paintings bring the beauty of the Antarctic to life.

Reviewer:
Maximilian Spiess,
age 6

I thought this book was very interesting. I learned that penguins have to walk and slide pretty far to get food. I also learned they have egg flaps and that the Dad helps to keep the baby penguin warm. I enjoyed having my parents read this book to me. I liked the illustrations showing how big the cracks in the ice were and how big the iceberg was compared with the penguins. The cover of the book could have been more interesting. I would choose a different illustration, like the one where the mother was looking at her egg for the first time.