Tag: exploration

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater (J Fiction)

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Richard and Florence Atwater (J Fiction)

Mr. Popper is a painter who’s never left his little town of Stillwater. He loves his wife, has two wonderful children, and a nice little house that has been painted and papered more times than Mrs. Popper can count. But Mr. Popper dreams of being an explorer and traveling to see those cute penguins that he’s read so much about. His dream of adventure comes one step closer to reality when the famous Admiral Drake sends him a penguin straight from the South Pole. Little did Mr. Popper realize how one little penguin would begin an unforgettable journey that even Admiral Drake would envy.

Winner of the 1939 Newbery Honor Book award, Mr. Popper’s Penguins was devotedly finished by Florence Atwater after her husband Richard was too ill to finish his enchanting story about love, loyalty, selflessness, and family. A funny and quirky story about a man filled with regret who suddenly finds himself the caretaker of a colony of penguins. Even the fastidious Mrs. Popper can’t help but fall in love with this goofy and curious lot who quickly capture the imagination and adoration of their little town and the country.

It’s quite extraordinary to see how much life imitates art when you realize how, like Florence, Mrs. Popper steps up to see her husband’s dream realized. Although Florence Atwater might not have had to deal with the financial burden of a rookery of penguins, she did finish what her husband started and did so in spectacular fashion as the Atwater’s book continues to be a beloved children’s classic over eight decades after it was published.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is more than just a story about penguins. It’s a beautiful ode to anyone who’s experienced true love. Mrs. Popper sacrifices her home, her life, and the family’s financial stability to support a husband she loves. In turn, Mr. Popper has to make a very difficult decision regarding his beloved penguins—keep them by accepting a lucrative Hollywood contract or release them back to the arctic and never see them again. Author Bob Goff wrote, “Selfless love is always costly; fear can’t afford it, pride doesn’t understand it and friends never forget it.” You can be sure that twelve little penguins won’t soon forget it either.

Rating: 5/5

Want to share Mr. Popper with your homeschooler or classroom? Download our study guide: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Study-Guide-Mr-Poppers-Penguins-by-Richard-and-Florence-Atwater-12118927

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (YA Horror)

Coraline.jpg

Coraline   

Neil Gaiman (Young Adult Fiction)

Coraline (not Caroline) Jones lives in a rather large house with her mother and father.  Because the house is much too big for just one family, she shares it with Misses Spink and Forcible (they live in the flat below) and the crazy old man with a big mustache (who lives in the flat above).  The day after she moves in, Coraline goes exploring.  She IS an explorer after all and exploring is what she does.  She explores the gardens, the tennis court, and even the old well (which is very dangerous so it’s best to stay away from it).  Soon, she begins exploring her house, which leads her to a door (which is kept locked), which opens up to a brick wall.  But one day, the brick wall isn’t there and Coraline decides to go through the door, because that is what explorers do.  It’s not long before Coraline realizes that she should have listened to the mice (in the flat above) and NOT have gone through the door.  Mice are smart.  At least they pronounce her name correctly.

Coraline is a wonderfully spooky and thrilling tale of a young girl who is clever, brave, and kind.  Her curiosity tends to get her into mischief, but a level head and a compassionate heart always seem to allow this little explorer to come out on top.

In his book, Neil Gaiman shows us different kinds of love.  There’s the I-love-yellow-Wellington-boots-in-the-shape-of-frogs love and the I’d-love-for-you-to-go-away-so-I-can-work love and then the I-love-you-so-much-that-I-will-give-you-everything-so-you’ll-love-me-too kind of love.  Throughout our story, Coraline deals with all of these:  her own love for quirky things; the love from her parents who often don’t seem to notice her; and the demanding love from a strange being that will go to any length in order to acquire and keep it.  The Ancient Greeks identified eight kinds of love.  Psychologists state there are seven.  For Coraline, there is only one kind of love and that is the love she has for her mother and father.  It is this love that gives her the will and the strength to fight against seemingly overwhelming odds and terrifying beings in order to find her way home again…and back to love.

Rating: 4/5

Posted: 10/2/2018

* Book cover image attributed to http://www.amazon.com