Poppy is a penguin from a performing family. She’s grown up in a circus environment and has always been part of the show. Poppy finds the circus noisy and difficult. She dreads having knives thrown at her and being fired at a cannon, but more than anything she dreads telling everyone she loves that she no longer wants to be part of the circus.
When she summons the courage, the love and support that her parents give her helps her transform into a penguin who is confident in her own identity.
This is not only the most joyous story about self-discovery and embracing who you are, it also contains some of the cutest picture book penguins. Penguins on unicycles, penguins bouncing in trampolines, penguins in clown costumes and penguins stuffed into show canons. It is impossible not to smile while reading this story. Young children who have tried hard to please adults will relate to Poppy. The message in the narrative is that the adults who love you will be proud of you whoever you choose to be.
I am a sucker for circus stories and this one has everything. In many of the illustrations the background is simple circus-tent stripes allowing the reader to focus on the costumes and the action from the penguins. We are also invited into the arena to watch the performance and I love how we return to the show later in the story to see how things have changed for Poppy.
A fun and gentle story about self-growth and following one’s interests. Penguin-tastic!
- The Greatest Showpenguin by Lucy Freegard is available now, RRP. £6.99, from Pavilion Books (Provided for review)
- The Greatest Showpenguin by Lucy Freegard is available now, RRP £6.99, from Pavilion Books (Provided for review)
