When Mr. Popper sends a letter to his hero, Admiral Drake the Antarctic explorer, he doesn't expect to receive a penguin in return. When he does, he knows just what to do because he reads books about the Antarctic and penguins every night when he comes home from his job as a house painter.
The surprise penguin arrives in the winter when Mr. Popper is off from work (house painters don't work in the wintertime). The family names their penguin Captain Cook because of the way he says, "Gook! Gook!"
The Popper family (which consists of Mr. and Mrs. Popper, Janie, and Bill)now has a problem; Captain Cook seems to be sick. They try everything, but nothing works. Then they start to suspect that Captain Cook is lonely, so they get another penguin from the aquarium to keep him company. Mr. Popper names the newcomer Greta. Greta and Captain Cook have ten children. Normally penguins only have two babies, and no penguin could fit ten eggs under her or him (Captain Cook takes turns sitting on eggs, too!).
When the baby penguins hatch, the Poppers fill the basement with ice and the twelve penguins toboggan and slide everywhere! Popper's Penguins become famous, and have an act with fake fighting and marches;Mrs. Popper plays piano for the act. They travel far and theaters everywhere want them to perform. After a season of performing, they are all tired out and decide that they have had the time of their lives and want to go back to the Popper house, but neither the penguins nor Mr. Popper stay at home for long. . . . READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!
I recommend this book for anyone who loves a wacky, amusing classic filled with humor.
Atwater, Richard and Florence. Mr. Popper's Penguins. (Boston: Little, Brown), 1938. ISBN 978-0316186469.
