The Old Man and the Penguin

By Julie Abery, Pierre Pratt (illustrator),

Book cover of The Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship

Book description

Told in rhyming verse, this is the touching true story of an oil-soaked penguin, the man who rescues him and an unlikely friendship. João hears “a sorry screech” as he walks along the shore near his home. It's from a penguin, whose feathers are soaked in oil. Too tired to…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Old Man and the Penguin as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The Old Man and the Penguin is based on a TRUE story of how a Brazilian man, João Pereira de Souza, rescued and cared for a Magellanic penguin caught in an oil spill. It’s 1-part rhymed picture book + 1-part fascinating nonfiction + 2-parts sweet story of friendship that shows the importance of environmental awareness and stewardship. I can see kids reading it over and over, like I have. I bet it would start wonderful discussions about how human activities often threaten Earth’s wildlife—and how we might change that. 

From Erin's list on making Earth Day every day.

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