The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African Penguins

What a great book with a happy outcome for one of the many endangered animals in the world. The Animal Rescue Series by Sandra Markle is a wonderful way to learn about endangered species and what is being done to save them. I must say that I had never heard of the African Penguin before, so this book was quite enlightening.

The African Penguin became endangered due to changes in their habitat (harvesting guano), harvesting of their eggs as well as a dangerous oil spill. Commercial fishing off the coast of South Africa also cut into their diet and forced them to travel further to eat, which they were not able to do. Governments made it illegal to harvest guano and collect penguin eggs, but it was still done illegally. As Scientists rescued abandoned eggs and abandoned chicks, they were able to raise them and release them in the wild. The oil spill of the MV Treasure could have been a worse tragedy for the penguins if not for the quick actions of several bird rescue organizations. With the protection of the nesting grounds, the restrictions on fishing during the breeding season and the rescue of eggs and chicks, the population is slowly increasing. This is a great book for older children to read to learn about an endangered animal and what conservation groups are doing to try and protect them. There are sections at the back with resources for further study, Did you know, timeline and a glossary. The photos in the book are beautiful and taken in the penguin's natural habitat. A great book for any school library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

This informational text talks about African penguins, the various threats to their livelihood, and the ways people (including scientists, policymakers, and volunteers) are trying to help them survive.

This book immediately caught my attention because African penguins are among my favorite animals and the cover includes such a strikingly beautiful photograph of one. And it is indeed a book packed with relevant facts and wonderful full-color photographs featuring up-close moments with African penguins.

However, the prose was lacking something and the text came across as completely unengaging. In addition, there was occasionally material that was essential a sidebar but it would take up a full page or even a full page spread, thereby interrupting the flow on the main text.

Even with me being so interested in the subject matter, I found myself putting the book down a couple of times to "come back to this later" -- for a book that's under 50 pages -- because the writing style was so dull (despite the story of African penguins being quite fascinating). I'd imagine that young readers might also have a hard time getting into this book as well.

The book ends with extensive backmatter including a glossary, index, timeline, author's note, and more.

Great photographs, and story, of African penguins.