Mr. Popper's Penguins

Performing Penguins

In this classic, Newbury Honor book, written by Richard and Florence Atwater, Mr. Popper loves everything about the North and South Poles. When a penguin is delivered to his front door he has no idea how his life will change. With his painting business shut down for the winter, and money tight, how will the Poppers support themselves and the penguins? Take this exciting (and quite hilarious) journey with Mr. Popper and his family in Mr. Popper's Penguins. Then, when you're done reading, watch the modern remake of Mr. Popper's Penguins with Jim Carey as Mr. Popper.

Reading Level: Flesch-Kincaid: 6.3

Teachers: Here are some resources for you to use...

Web Resources:

• Scholastic: This site is listed as a "discussion guide" but I would call it more of a list of really good ideas to go along with reading Mr. Popper's Penguins.
• Money Management: This site provides a very detailed way to use Mr. Popper's Penguins cross-curricularly by teaching students about using credit.
• Study Guide: Comprehension questions for each chapter.
• Reader's Theater: Reader's Theater for Mr. Popper's Penguins.

Vocabulary: Words to discuss: spectacles, heathen, pompous, rotogravure, novelty, ushers, ecstatic, nuisance, expedition

Activities:

Before Reading: Create a KWL for Penguins. Use this throughout reading to see what Mr. Popper seems to know (or not know) about penguins.

During Reading: Stop and make a prediction: After the first penguin comes to live with the Poppers; after Greta comes to live with the Poppers; after the penguins are born; when the Poppers start to run out of money; when the Poppers are going to have the penguins audition; after they are offered a 10 week tour with the penguins.

After Reading: 

• Watch the Mr. Popper's Penguins movie and compare and contrast the two.
• Create a floor plan of the Popper's house throughout the stages of "penguin life" in their house.

Across the Curriculum

• Use the money management lesson (or your own version of this lesson) to connect Mr. Popper's Penguins to math.
• Study penguins as a Science Connection. What kind of penguins are in this book? What other penguins are there? There is much to learn about penguins, did you know: most penguins don't live in the cold?!

Atwater, R., Atwater, F., & Lawson, R. (1938). Mr. Popper's penguins. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)