PENGUIN DAY

Close-up color photos invite viewers to join a family of rockhopper penguins on its daily round.

Bishop’s brief accompanying commentary gives the day a distinct but not misleading anthropomorphic cast. While “papa penguin” stays behind to watch the chick, “mama” joins a rush of feathered commuters who scamper over hills and down cliffs to dive into the sea after fish and krill. Meanwhile, after waddling away to “visit some friends,” the chick is saved by papa from a predatory skua. At last, mama returns to regurgitate dinner, and then it’s time to nod off: “Sleep tight, baby penguin.” The photos center on the fluffy gray chick and its photogenic parents, with their bright orange beaks and distinctive feathery tufts above each eye (various rockhoppers served as subjects, according to a note). The penguins’ food and the natural hazards of their Antarctic environment are mentioned—both in the narrative and, in more detail, at the end—but not depicted.

The family dynamic may seem familiar to many young readers and listeners—and the regurgitation bit should stimulate some lively audience response.