Mr. Popper, a humble house painter in the town of Stillwater, spends his quiet winters dreaming of Antarctic exploration. His life changes when a famous explorer sends him a live penguin named Captain Cook. Before long, the bird is joined by a female companion, Greta, and soon the Poppers find themselves housing a brood of ten chicks. To fund the massive costs of ice, fresh fish, and a basement freezer, Mr. Popper trains the birds into a traveling vaudeville act known as Popper's Performing Penguins.
This classic story serves young readers aged seven to ten and families looking for a dryly humorous read-aloud. It appeals to children who enjoy imaginative solutions to domestic problems and the absurdity of wild animals living in human environments. Readers gain an appreciation for 1930s-era entertainment culture and the logistics of caring for unusual pets. The book concludes by teaching that unexpected events can lead to a complete shift in one's life path, ultimately emphasizing a sense of wonder over the mundane.
Practical, outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1938
- Language
- EN
