There’s just something so snuggly and cute about penguins! These children’s books about penguins make the perfect addition to a unit on polar animals or simply as a study unto themselves.
Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by Bob Barner
Students will delight in this simple rhyming penguin book. Penguins go sliding, swimming, and waddling across the brightly colored pages. Students learn fun facts about all 17 different kinds of penguins, including where they live and how they stay safe in such a hostile environment.
Extending the Learning: Add toy penguins and some insta-snow to the sensory table so students can pretend play what they learned from the story!
Penguins Love Colors by Sarah Aspinall
Six little penguins living in a snowy white land decide to surprise their momma with a colorful painting. Will their momma be as happy with their colorful, messy creation as they are? This is one of the classic children’s books about penguins – and a favorite for sure!
Extend the Learning: Explore color theory and mixing of colors with this easy-to-set-up art center.
Plenty of Penguins by Sonia Black
A beginning reader non-fiction book from Scholastic, Plenty of Penguins gives children an overview of the different kinds of penguins and the things that make each one unique.
Extending the Learning: Students count plenty of penguins in the classroom with this penguin counting activity set! Create simple cards to help students understand different math problems (four red penguins plus three blue penguins is the same as five yellow penguins plus two green ones, for example!)
Little Penguin and the Lollipop by Tadgh Bentley
When Little Penguin eats his friend’s lollipop, he tries all kinds of ways to help his friend feel better. Children are encouraged to participate in chanting funny sayings throughout the book, and engaging pictures allow students to think beyond the text.
Extending the Learning: LIttle Penguin and his friend have some BIG feelings in this story. Use this emotions block activity to review the different feelings – and empathy as well!
Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley
In classic Tadgh Bentley fashion, this Little Penguin book encourages interaction from the readers to scare the penguin’s hiccups away. From silly scares to finding out what causes the little penguin’s hiccups in the first place, students will love this adorable penguin book.
Extending the Learning: At the end of the story, Little Penguin and Franklin enjoy some spicy tacos. Set up a taco truck in the dramatic play area for students to enjoy!
Check out this Resource from my Shop!
Polar Animals Preschool Unit
$12.00Your preschool and Pre-K students will learn all about penguins, polar bears, and more in this complete Polar Animals Preschool Unit that is just right for 3-6-year-olds! The unit includes detailed circle time lesson plans, printable activities, and centers too.
Penguins! by Gail Gibbons
This book is full of all things penguins! Children will learn about the characteristics that distinguish one type of penguin from the rest, and the similarities between all kinds of penguins.
Extending the Learning: How do penguins stay warm and dry in the icy cold ocean? This fun experiment shows students how!
Penguin’s Big Surprise by Susie J nkin-Pearce
Pugwug doesn’t know what to do when Big Penguin introduces him to his new sibling. It doesn’t look like a penguin… it looks like a ball. And it doesn’t act like a penguin. In fact, it doesn’t do anything at all! But Pugwug is in for a big surprise when he suddenly is in charge of looking after his new sibling.
Extending the Learning: It is exciting to have a new little person – or penguin – to look after. Set up a baby nursery in the dramatic play area for students to take care of new pretend siblings. Or create a pocket chart graph with student names listing who has an older sibling, younger sibling, both, or no siblings at all.
Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
This delightful pair of books about penguins is perfect for preschool. When a penguin shows up unexpectedly, a boy makes it his mission to help it return home. They travel a long distance only to discover the penguin hadn’t been lost at all. It had simply been lonely and now had found a friend.
Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers
Children will delight in this story of friendship. When Penguin decides he wants to learn how to fly, the boy tries everything he can to help his friend succeed.
Extending the Learning: Add black and white opposite art to the classroom to celebrate the penguin color scheme and reinforce opposites!
Continue the fun with this FREE Penguin Emergent Reader Book
