Penguin Books for Kids

If you’re planning a penguin-themed lesson or looking for winter read-alouds, this list of 15 Penguin Books is just what you need!

Each book is perfect for engaging your preschool and kindergarten students while teaching them about the flightless birds, friendship, and fun.

These penguin-themed picture books are sure to delight your kids while enhancing your literacy lessons.

Whether you’re teaching about winter, animals, or social-emotional skills, these stories will bring a smile to your students’ faces.

Penguin Books Your Kids Will Waddle To Read:

Click on the pictures and our affiliate links below to find out more information about the books.

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

Tacky is an odd bird who doesn’t follow the rules like his penguin friends, but his unique behavior ends up saving the day. This humorous tale will help teach your kids about individuality and acceptance.

Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon

In this heartwarming story, Penguin befriends a pinecone and learns about love, caring, and the joy of giving. The simple yet profound message will resonate with your young readers.

Penguins! by Gail Gibbons

Gail Gibbons combines her signature illustrations with engaging facts about penguins, their habitats, and behaviors. It’s one of our favorites and is sure to be a hit in your classroom too.

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

A boy discovers a penguin at his door and decides to help it find its way home. This story of friendship and determination will capture your students’ hearts.

If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor

This beautifully illustrated book explores all the things penguins can do, sparking your children’s imaginations while introducing them to penguin facts.

National Geographic Readers: Penguins! by Anne Schreiber

This easy-to-read book is packed with photographs and fun facts about penguins. It’s perfect for young learners curious about these fascinating birds.

Penguin Problems by Jory John

This humorous book follows a penguin who complains about everything, only to realize how amazing life really is. It’s a great read for teaching perspective and gratitude.

Flight School by Lita Judge

A penguin dreams of flying and enrolls in flight school to make his dream come true. This inspiring story teaches perseverance and believing in yourself.

Penguin Chick by Betty Tatham

This beautifully illustrated book follows the life of a baby penguin as it grows and learns to survive in the Antarctic. It’s the perfect blend of storytelling and facts.

365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental

What happens when 365 penguins show up at a family’s house? This hilarious and chaotic story introduces your kids to math concepts like counting and grouping.

Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere! by Bob Barner

This colorful book combines fun rhymes with interesting facts about penguins, making it a delightful and educational read.

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

Grumpy Pants is about a penguin who’s feeling down and needs to find a way to shake off his bad mood. This relatable story helps kids understand emotions and self-care.

The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins

This nonfiction book introduces children to the life of Emperor penguins, focusing on the father’s role in hatching the egg. It’s an engaging way to teach kids about nature.

Penguin Pete by Marcus Pfister

Follow Penguin Pete’s adventures as he learns about the world and makes new friends. The vibrant illustrations and engaging story make this a classroom favorite.

Pierre the Penguin: A True Story by Jean Marzollo

This true story about a penguin who needed a special wetsuit to stay warm teaches kids about problem-solving and caring for animals.

These penguin books will make a great addition to your penguin or winter units, and your students will love to learn all about these flightless birds.

Pin It For Later:

Do you want to save this resource for later? Pin this on Pinterest and it’ll be here for when you’re ready!

More Penguin Literacy Activities:

Pair these books with these hands-on penguin-themed activities:

Winter Alphabet Sensory Bins – Make practicing letter and sound recognition “snow” much fun with these penguin-themed alphabet sensory bins.

Winter Find the Letter Activity – Challenge your students to find the letters of the alphabet in this penguin letter search activity.

Penguin Tracing Worksheets – Practice writing strokes and develop fine motor skills with these no-prep penguin tracing worksheets.