Parcel for Penguin by Shelley Knoll-Miller

When a parcel arrives for Penguin, all the animals are excited. Living where they do, they are icy cold and would love the parcel to contain something to keep them warm. The parcel is a present from Gorilla so readers will have a great deal of fun guessing what might be inside. Penguin guesses it may be a cosy scarf, but the parcel is too heavy to be a soft scarf. So could it be a hot water bottle, but this too is rejected as the parcel is too cold. Several guesses later, the parcel is ripped open by all the animals to reveal something quite unexpected.

And what Penguin does with his gift will keep him very warm.

A very cute story eliciting a guessing game from the readers, Parcel for Penguin will appeal to young readers for whom learning about other animals is very new. These animals, situated in the colder regions of the world will help young readers learn about places in their environment, as well as the traits of these animals adapted to living in hostile conditions. But they will love Penguin, especially the detailed illustrations of this little creature on the endpapers.

The guessing book behoves the question about just what is an appropriate present for a penguin or its friends? Living in such a cold climate and will lead on to much discussion about the animals’ adaptations. Much more complicated ideas about weather and climate could ensue.

Themes: Climate, Weather, Arctic animals, Adaptation, Cold, Guessing game.

Fran Knight