Describes the development of Obie, a penguin living in a nature sanctuary, from the day he hatches to age five weeks.

Describes the development of Obie, a penguin living in a nature sanctuary, from the day he hatches to age five weeks.

Through the bitter Antarctic winter, a father emperor penguin nurtures and broods a large egg while his partner is out at sea, feeding. When the chick hatches, mom returns from the ocean to meet her new baby for the first time and bring it a nourishing meal of regurgitated fish. So begins the life of one of the most fascinating birds on Earth! In Penguin Chicks, readers will learn the details of how these baby birds grow up in a penguin nursery among thousands of other chicks. Each little penguin grows bigger and bigger until the day when its parents no longer arrive with a meal. Then the chick must trek to the freezing ocean to look for fish and begin its adult life. The colorful interior spreads and gorgeous photos of penguin chicks are sure to delight emergent readers.

An emperor penguin lays an egg on the Antarctic ice. In the bitter cold, miles away from the only source of food, how can the chick survive?

In the springtime an egg begins to crack, and though Little Chick starts out life tiny and weak, he quickly grows into a fuzzy chick and learns all about life on the farm with his siblings. But when all the chicks get big enough, it’s time for Mom to leave them on their own. How will they know what to eat and where to sleep without her? How will they defend themselves when bullies come around? In this magnificently illustrated book, children will love watching Little Chick go through the stages of growing into a full-sized rooster. It’s a sweet book that will appeal to young and old alike.

Both penguin parents feed and care for their chick. Each chick has a unique call its parents recognize. Readers will travel to Antarctica and discover the ways wild penguin chicks live, grow, and develop. Engaging text accompanied by vibrant photographs supports the Next Generation Science Standards on growth and development of organisms, biodiversity, and social interactions in animal groups by introducing students to the characteristics and behavior, family structure, and habitats of penguins. Fast Facts and a Learn More section with books and websites encourage readers to dive deeper into the subject matter.

When you look at a penguin chick, do you see a future deep sea diver or surfer? If not, you should. The little chicks in this book share about their dreams for adulthood!