Children’s Books About Penguins

There is something about those waddling black & white birds that is just captivating. If your kids love penguins or you are planning a penguin unit, you’ll want to grab this printable list of children’s books about penguins.  It is one of the many animal book lists you’ll find on the site. 🙂

Books About Penguins for Kids

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Picture Books About Penguins

Be Brave Little Penguinby Giles Andreae is one of my favorites on the list. A little penguin is afraid of the unknown in the big ocean, but with encouragement from his mama, he takes the brave plunge into the waters and discovers how wonderful it is.

Penguin Problems by Jory John and Lane Smith is a funny story showing that life in Antartica isn’t all that you think it might be.

Penguin Flies Home by Lita Judge is the tale of a penguin who flies home to visit his friends. He worries that he won’t be accepted because he’s different and flies.  But, his friends rally around him to let him know that he will always belong.  This one definitely packs a punch about acceptance and being yourself.  Also, check out Judge’s Flight School.

If You Were a Penguin by Florence Minor is a good pick for young listeners. Simple rhyming text highlights all the different things that penguins can do.

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester is a classic. Tacky is klutzy and silly, but he can really come to the rescue when his friends need him. Also, check out other Tacky books in the series.

Penguin’s Big Adventure by Salina Yoon comes from the Yoon’s Penguin series and is also a good pick for young listeners. Penguin is trying new things when he ventures to the North Pole.

Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley is one of my favorites for a whole group read aloud because it’s interactive.  Kids get to help Little Penguin get rid of the hiccups.  Also check out, Betley’s Little Penguin and the Lollipop.

365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental would be my kid’s favorite on the list. A family keeps getting mysterious deliveries of penguins to their front door. With so many penguins in the house, they have to be creative about housing them all.  This books also provides lots of math practice!

Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall is geared towards little ones learning their colors.

What would happen if a lost penguin ended up on your doorstep?  Find out in Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers.

Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle is a wordless book choice full of imagination and creative storytelling.

I bring you The Penguin of Ilha Grande by Shannon Earle and illustrated by Renato Alarcão. Off the coast of Brazil, a man rescues an oil-covered penguin. And, soon the two become friends. For 7 (yes seven) years, the penguin lived Seu João for 8 months of the year and then left for 4 months during the molting season.

Non-fiction Books About Penguins

Baby Penguin Slips and Slides by Michael Teitelbaum takes on a photo journey of the life of a baby penguin.

Gail Gibbons is the queen of non-fiction for children. Penguins by Gail Gibbons is filled with illustrations and loads of facts about these black and white birds.

Do Penguins Like the Cold? by Huw Lewis Jones allows us to take a front-row seat on a penguin expedition. You’ll learn about emperors, kings, rockhoppers, and more. Most importantly we’ll learn how to protect the environment for the penguins to thrive.

Chapter Books About Penguins

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater is a super-fun chapter book read aloud.  In fact, try it for a Family Dinner Book Club.—>See the Mr. Popper’s Penguin Family Dinner Book Club

Get the Printable Penguin’s Book List

Click the green button below to download and print a copy of the book list above.  It’s perfect for taking to the library.

Need a whole week of literacy activities about penguins? Grab our Winter Preschool Literacy Unit which includes a week on penguins, a week on ice & snow, a week on snowmen, and a week on bears.—>Get the Winter Preschool Lesson Plans