The books listed on this page are our own personal selection. Many have been used as reference material in preparing these pages. If you know of any other good books that you would like to see on the list please send us a message with the title, author and publisher of the book, along with a few words describing why you like it. We will include the information on this page when it is next updated.

Books on Penguins - Factual

Penguin Fun and Children's Books

Books about Antarctica

General Wildlife Books with good Penguin sections

Penguin Picture Books

Miscellaneous

Books recommended by other Penguin Fans

Some brief notes on the books

The Penguins, Tony D Williams, OUP, (1995)

This is the best text book we have found on penguins. All aspects of behaviour are covered in good detail. The book is written as an academic textbook, but is quite readable by anybody. Only occasionally does the zoological and biological jargon get in the way. The illustrations are very good - mostly hand drawn - and informative. Every serious penguin lover needs to buy this book.

Penguins, John Sparks & Tony Soper, Facts on File Pubs. (1987)

We own both this, the second edition and the earlier first edition. The full size plates in the first edition are nicer to look at but otherwise the books are identical. The book is well written with a general audience in mind. In some places you find yourself wishing for more information and there are some mistakes, especially concerning the breeding locations of the crested penguins. This is a very good book for people with a serious interest who don't want all the detail of Tony William's excellent tome.

Penguins, John A Love, Whittet Books (1994)

John has produced a lovely short book written at a particularly accessible level. The book is beautifully illustrated with John's own line drawings which bring out the character of the penguins. Highly recommended. This is the best first penguin book for those with some interest who don't want to invest in either of the above two more expensive and drier works.

Penguins of the World, Pauline Reilly, OUP, Australia (1994)

Pauline Reilly's book falls between an academic text and a popular book for a general audience. It contains all the essential information, but the writing style is a little dry, and the book lacks the nice little anecdotes that can be found in both John Love's and John Sparks & Tony Soper's books. Nevertheless it is not expensive and well worth reading.

The Total Penguin, James Gorman, Prentice Hall (1990)

This is a lavishly illustrated book, lots of really good colour photographs. The text is less informative than any of the above books, but the pictures make up for that. This is clearly intended as a 'coffee table book'.

The SeaWorld Book of Penguins, Frank S Todd, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (1984)

Frank Todd's little book is remarkable for packing so much information into so few pages. Well worth reading. Buy one if you can get hold of a copy.

The Hoiho, Adele Vernon, Hodder and Stoughton (1991)

This is a really good book devoted to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, the Maori name for YEP's is Hoiho. Very informative and well illustrated this book is a must if you are into YEPs (and anyone who has seen them will be).

A Book of King Penguins, T H Gillespie, Herbert Jenkins Ltd. (1932)

This book is an account of the King Penguins at Edinburgh Zoo, written by a past director. Probably it will be very difficult to find, it throws interesting light on penguin keeping a few decades ago.

Penguins, SeaWorld, SeaWorld Inc. (1991)

This is a 14 page booklet available from SeaWorld that gives all the essential information about penguins in a clear graphic format. It is intended as a guide for teachers, etc.

The Penguins, Ecology and Management eds. Peter Dann, Ian Norman and Pauline Reilly, Surrey, Beatty and Sons, NSW, Australia (1995)
This book contains the proceedings of the 2nd International Penguin Conference held on Phillip Island in August, 1992. There are contributions by many important Penguin Biologists from throughout the world. This is a book for those with a truly serious interest in penguins. We find it a very useful reference text.
Penguins Bernard Stonehouse, Arthur Baker, London (1968)
A very good book by Bernard Stonehouse which covers all aspects of penguin behaviour, etc. The text is well written and Bernard's excellent sense of humour shines through. For example when he notes the differences between Kings and Emperors; "....Kings have the lines of a magnum of champagne, Emperors a firkin of beer..."
Sharing our Future with Human Beings, (in Japanese) ISBN 4-87243-040-9

What can we say? This is a lovely book given to us by the Japanese Penguin Fund who publish it. Unfortunately we can't read much of it. The illustrations look very good and the list of penguin colonies at the back (which is about the only part we can read) is very useful. Presumably a must for all Japanese Penguin Lovers.

The Nature of Penguins, J Chester, Greystone Books (1996)

A 'coffee table' book with lots of beautiful photographs of all species of penguins together with a useful text describing behaviour and history of penguins.

Antarctic Penguins G Murray Levick, Heinmann, London (1914)

One of the earlist studies of penguins to be found anywhere with several historic black and white photographs. The details of some of the scientific studies - weights, and sizes of birds, etc. are still useful today. The style is a little anthropomorphic by modern standards but remains completely factual.

Penguins Penguins, Dennis Traut, Penguin (1982)

A really fun little cartoon book. Every penguin lover should have a copy.

The Penguins are Coming, R L Penney, Worlds Work Ltd. (1970)

This is a children's book by Penney who worked with penguins and wrote several serious books. The result is a wonderfully illustrated and accurate little book about penguins for young children.

The Penguin Family Book, L Sømme & S Kallas, North South Books (1988)

Another good fact book for youngsters. This one is illustrated with lots of photos, mostly of chinstrap penguins.

The Pirate Penguin, Young World Productions (1972)

A silly little child's book, the sort of thing some of our friends find it amusing to give us as presents - we don't mind though if it's about penguins.

The Penguin and the Vacuum Cleaner, C Sloane, Puffin Books (1974)

Another story book, not too bad.

Cinderella Penguin, J Perlman, Kids Can Press Ltd (1992)

A rather sillier story book for young penguin fans.

Fred's Pyramid, S Moskowitz, Simon and Schuster (1982)

This is more like it. The story may be silly but the cartoons are well drawn and quite amusing in a silly sort of way.

The Greenpeace Book of Antarctica, J May, Dorling Kindersley (1988)

The best of the 'coffee table books' on Antarctica. Well illustrated and with a lot to say about the protection of the environment. A good book highly recommended.

Wild Ice, Naveen, Monteath, de Roy, Jones, BCA (1990)

A lavishly illustrated book with many spectacular photos. Each chapter is a different author's perspective on the continent.

Antarctica Beauty in the Extreme, J Chester, Friedman Group (1991)
Antarctica, the Last Frontier, R Laws, Boxtree (1989)

A fairly informative book, with some good illustrations. But the writing style is not to our tastes.

Antarctica, No Single Country No Single Sea, Bond and Siegfried, New Holland (1988)
This book is in a large format so the pictures are very good. The text contains all the usual information, but nothing outstanding.
Destination Antarctica, R Swan, Scholastic Inc. (1988)
This slim paperback is well written in simple straightforward language suitable for all age groups. It has some good illustrations.
The Worst Journey in the World, A Cherry-Garrard, Penguin (1922)
Apsley Cherry-Garrard's account of Scott's last expedition covers the whole affair from recruitment in England to the eventual return. The worst journey of the title is the trip he undertook with Edward Wilson to visit an Emperor penguin colony at Cape Crozier in the middle of the Antarctic winter so they could collect eggs. The book is well worth reading - though it can be quite hard going in places. It provides a lot of insights into the ways of the English at the turn of the century. Even though Cherry-Garrard treats Scott as a great leader, some of the actions portrayed make him seem more of a pompous fool!
Antarctica, a lonely planet travel survival kit , Jeff Rubin , Lonely Planet (1996)
This is the first and so far only guide book to Antarctica. The book is crammed full of the most useful information about all aspects of Antarctica, including descriptions of all the places it is possible to visit, details of all the tour operators in the area as well as a wealth of other information. Everyone who has any interest in the Antarctic regions needs this book.
Antarctica, Mike Lucas , New Holland (1996)
This is another of the large format coffee table Antarctica books that have appeared in large numbers over the last few years. The book combines good photography of scenery and wildlife with a lively text - recommended.
A for Antarctica, M Hooper, Piccolo Books (1991)
This short book seems to be written for children, it is a series of articles of aspects of the Antarctic in alphabetical order. However, the idea doesn't work for us. The choice of subjects leaves something to be desired and there are too many errors to make this one worth buying.
Beyond the Frozen Sea, E Mickleburgh, Paladin (1987)
This is an informative paperback book, with very few illustrations. Worth reading if you intend to visit Antarctica, or have a strong interest in the region.
Antarctica, A Guide to the Wildlife, Tony Soper, Bradt Publications (1994)
This short guide book covers all the birds and mammals to be seen in the Antarctica region and makes a good field guide.
The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Birds, G Moon, Reed Books(1992)
Good bird guide with excellent articles on the penguins of the region.
SeaBirds, Peter Harrison, Houghton Mifflin (1983)
Excellent, if brief, coverage of the penguins in this field guide.
Penguins, Puffins and Auks, W Ashworth, Crown Publishers Inc. (1993)
A nice 'coffee table' book covering both penguins and auks. Lots of interesting comparisons are drawn between these different birds, filling similar niches in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Life in the Freezer, A Fothergill, BBC Books (1993)
The book of the BBC series. Well worth buying, this is the best introduction to the Antarctic region.
Penguins, Wolfgang Kaehler, Chronicle Books (1989)
Every penguin lover needs this book. The pictures are spectacular. We bought two copies and used one to make pictures to hang on our walls.
Wildlife and Wilderness, K Shackleton, Clive Holloway Books (1986)
A book of lovely paintings of the Antarctic region, with plenty of penguins in evidence.
Birds and Islands, R Lockley, H F and G Witherby (1991)
An interesting, but ultimately disapointing ,book with stories about several islands - including plenty of penguins.
Sexual Behaviour of Penguins, L E Richdale, University of Kansas Press (1951)
This was the first detailed study of penguin behaviour, and has become a classic in it's own right.
A Population Study of Penguins, L E Richdale, OUP (1957)
Richdale's second book is said by many to lay the methodology for ornithological studies in general.
Animals of the Antarctic, B Stonehouse, Peter Lowe London (1972)
Bernard Stonehouse was the pre-eminent penguinologist of the 60's and 70's. His books are in constant demand.
The Biology of Penguins, B Stonehouse (ed), Macmillan (1975)
This is taken by most as the bible of penguin facts. Perhaps Tony William's new book will become as important, but only time will tell.
The Island of Penguins, C Kearton, Longmans (1930)
Cherry Kearton spent a lot of time observing penguins and his books are interesting as they not only tell us about penguins but also throw light on the attitudes of researchers. The anthropomorphic style is very typical of the times.

Books Recommended by friends through the Internet

Debbie writes

As a penguin lover, I wanted to share a couple of titles from my children's collection of penguin books.

I love Ten Little Penguins: A Pop-up Counting Book by Jane Walker (1994, Bantam Doubleday Dell/Transworld Publ.).

It is a cute counting story with the penguins "disappearing" one by one until the end. It is also the only penguin pop-up I have found so far.

Another children's book I enjoy is Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester; illus. by Lynn Munsinger (1988, Houghton Mifflin).

Tacky is a rather eccentric penguin who refuses to be a conformist as he feels the other penguins are. In the end the penguins find out that Tacky's different way of doing things can actually come in handy.

Guide to Pete & Barb's Penguin Pages
Front Page and Introduction · Descriptions of the Penguins · Detailed Species Notes · Breeding Behaviour · Common questions · Penguin Goodies · Penguin Bibliography · Good Penguin Guide · Photo Index · Links to other penguin sites · 'Penguin-balls' · Endangered Penguins ·
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