Did you ever long to have an exotic pet? Maybe a monkey? Or perhaps a cuddly panda bear? How about a penguin? Mr Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater is the imaginative tale of one small-town man who unexpectedly has a penguin delivered to his front door.
Mr Popper, an ordinary house painter, absentmindedly goes about his work. While his hands are busy, his mind is far away on the continent of Antarctica. Mr Popper spends a great deal of his spare time learning about the Antarctic and the daring expeditions of Admiral Drake. He sends letters to the Admiral and faithfully follows along when the Admiral does his radio updates live from the South Pole.
Image Mr Popper’s astonishment when Admiral Drake speaks directly to him during one of the nationally broadcast programs. Admiral Drake’s message was simply to expect a package to arrive the next day. The following day, Mr Popper anxiously waits for the package to arrive.
Upon arrival, he finds that the very large box addressed to him contains a penguin from the South Pole! Mr Popper and his two children are exceedingly delighted. Mrs Popper is exceedingly distraught. How would they afford to feed their family while simultaneously caring for the very expensive needs of a penguin? The needs of one penguin soon turn into the needs for two penguins. And then, ten baby penguins arrive on the scene.
Adjustments must be made. The service man drills air holes into the refrigerator and installs an internal handle to the door. The Poppers wear their winter coats inside because the windows are all left open throughout the winter. An engineer installs a freezing plant in the basement. And the Poppers all accompany the penguins on a fantastic tour around the country performing to sell out crowds. Although everything is very different for the Poppers, all is well.
That is, until the warm airs of spring start to blow in. What are the Poppers to do with their cold-loving penguins in the coming warmth? Read Mr Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater to find out.