Penguin's Way

Review also includes:

Whale’s Way, 978-1851244287

The power of the narrative approach in non-fiction is evident in these two titles, in which a lyrical text and stunning illustrations capture the wonders of nature. Penguin’s Way begins its story with the adult emperor penguins swimming, feasting and playing in the Antarctic waters during the summer months.

It then describes how they move inland at the end of the summer, across the ‘lonely lands of snow’ in search of breeding grounds, where they mate and raise their young, the male playing a huge role in incubating and protecting the chicks. Once spring arrives, they return to the sea – once again, to swim, eat and play.

Whale’s Way describes the seasonal journey of whales – in particular the humpback – from the polar seas, abundant in plankton, to the Equator in search of warmer waters, and back again in order to resume feeding. Along the way, the story discusses the characteristics of these giant mammals – the way they breathe, feed and look after their young – and more besides.

These books are as appealing now as on first publication more than 50 years ago. Since then, the approach to children’s non-fiction has changed dramatically, with information today presented mainly through photographic images, small chunks of non-chronological text and captions. Both styles have their merits, but the photographic approach can sometimes lack passion and look jaded – especially when so much information and visual imagery is available on the Internet.

Both Penguin’s Way and Whale’s Way are written with enthusiasm and knowledge. The texts are evocative, weaving poetry and curious facts into an enticing whole. The sentences are peppered with alliteration and similes, and questions, often rhetorical, abound, stimulating the reader’s curiosity and inviting them to find out more. The illustrations capture to great effect not only the animals’ majesty but also the essence of their environments –blizzards, ice and watery sun through a minimal palette of blue, white and yellow in Penguin’s Way, and the ocean depths, storms and lashing waves in soft greens, greys and white, in Whale’s Way.