Recommended Reading: Four Penguin Picks!

My husband says I have penguin radar.  I can spot a penguin from a mile away.  This is a very useful skill to have.  When I worked at a library, I would find penguins meandering in the mystery section, pitter-pattering through the poetry, even rockhopping among the history books.  Once I found these rogue penguin books, I'd prop them up atop the bookshelves so that others could share in my discoveries.   And now, I will share them with you.

In no particular order, here are four penguin picks for your reading pleasure.

(Looking for children's books?  Don't worry, that post is still to come.)

 1.) The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell
adult fiction
A British man teaching English abroad rescues a Magellanic penguin from an oil spill.  This humorous memoir details the odd friendship of a man and his bird and their life at an Argentine boys' school.  This book was a big influence in my own decision to teach abroad (thought unfortunately I've not rescued any penguins).

2.) Death and the Penguin / Penguin Lost by Andrey Kurkov
adult fiction
Originally published in Russian, Death and the Penguin and it's sequel Penguin Lost tell the story of a man and his pet penguin living a strange and often dangerous life in post-Soviet Ukraine.  In a plot twisting with mystery and intrigue, the bond between the protagonist and his penguin provides humor and heart.

3.) Penguins: The Ultimate Guide by Tui De Roy, Mark Jones and Julie Cornthwaite
adult nonfiction
Probably my favorite reference book about penguins, The Ultimate Guide has beautiful photographs, species profiles, maps and charts as well as informative, well written articles on topics such as penguin fossils and evolution, the relationship between penguins and climate change, and even information about how to see penguins in the wild.

4.) Penguins by Roger Tory Peterson
adult nonfiction
A celebrated naturalist, Peterson is well known for his Peterson Identification System of classifying birds.  While information in this book is top notch,  it's the illustrations that really drew me in.  Peterson's Penguins is filled with detailed drawings of different species, with accompanying photographs.