Penguin

An emperor penguin swims underwater with its wings extended.

Fold 3, ages 8 to 10FOLD3AGES 8–10Fold 3 · Early Reader
Ages 8–10

PenguinWings for the Sea

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Words to know

penguin
a bird that swims
flipper
a penguin wing
feather
part of a bird's coat
A paper emperor penguin stands on sea ice beside blue water.A paper emperor penguin stands on sea ice beside blue water.A paper emperor penguin stands on sea ice beside blue water.

A penguin is a bird. This one stands on the ice next to the water.

Zara Can we see you swim, penguin?
An emperor penguin swims underwater with its flipper-shaped wings spread in a stroke.An emperor penguin swims underwater with its flipper-shaped wings spread in a stroke.An emperor penguin swims underwater with its flipper-shaped wings spread in a stroke.

Penguins flap their wings to swim. They cannot fly.

Flap, flap, zip!

A paper emperor penguin swims through blue water just beneath the surface.A paper emperor penguin swims through blue water just beneath the surface.A paper emperor penguin swims through blue water just beneath the surface.

A penguin's wings are called flippers. Flippers help a penguin zip in the water.

Can you spot them?

A standing emperor penguin shows its dark webbed feet on the ice.A standing emperor penguin shows its dark webbed feet on the ice.A standing emperor penguin shows its dark webbed feet on the ice.

This penguin has webbed feet. In the water, they help it zig and zag.

On the ice, it stands on them.

A paper emperor penguin swims through blue water just beneath the surface.A paper emperor penguin swims through blue water just beneath the surface.A paper emperor penguin swims through blue water just beneath the surface.

A penguin has a slim, slick shape. That shape helps it glide in the water.

An emperor penguin dives through blue water toward small fish.An emperor penguin dives through blue water toward small fish.An emperor penguin dives through blue water toward small fish.

Penguins dive to get food. They dive down into the water.

Eli Can you spot the fish?
An emperor penguin looks from the edge of sea ice toward the open ocean.An emperor penguin looks from the edge of sea ice toward the open ocean.An emperor penguin looks from the edge of sea ice toward the open ocean.

Penguins must come up for air. Then they can dive again.

Glands help penguins get rid of extra salt.

An emperor penguin swims near small fish and tiny krill in blue water.An emperor penguin swims near small fish and tiny krill in blue water.An emperor penguin swims near small fish and tiny krill in blue water.

Penguins gulp down fish. Some penguins gulp krill as well.

Eli Can you spot the krill?
An emperor penguin dives through blue water toward small fish.An emperor penguin dives through blue water toward small fish.An emperor penguin dives through blue water toward small fish.

A penguin can see in the water. It can also see on land.

Dense bones help penguins dive.

An emperor penguin turns its bill toward its side to preen its feathers.An emperor penguin turns its bill toward its side to preen its feathers.An emperor penguin turns its bill toward its side to preen its feathers.

An adult penguin has lots of feathers. The feathers help stop the water from getting in.

An emperor penguin turns its bill toward its side to preen its feathers.An emperor penguin turns its bill toward its side to preen its feathers.An emperor penguin turns its bill toward its side to preen its feathers.

A penguin uses its bill to fix up its feathers. It puts them back in place.

A molting emperor penguin stands on ice with loose old feathers lifting from its plumage.A molting emperor penguin stands on ice with loose old feathers lifting from its plumage.A molting emperor penguin stands on ice with loose old feathers lifting from its plumage.

Penguins shed feathers. Fresh feathers come in to take their place.

Eli Can you spot the feathers lifting up?
Two emperor penguins show their white fronts and black backs from different angles.Two emperor penguins show their white fronts and black backs from different angles.Two emperor penguins show their white fronts and black backs from different angles.

Adult penguins have dark backs and light fronts.

Can you see them on these two penguins?

An emperor penguin shelters one egg on top of his feet beneath his belly fold.An emperor penguin shelters one egg on top of his feet beneath his belly fold.An emperor penguin shelters one egg on top of his feet beneath his belly fold.

A penguin chick begins its life inside an egg. The chick gets big in the shell.

An emperor penguin shelters one egg on top of his feet beneath his belly fold.An emperor penguin shelters one egg on top of his feet beneath his belly fold.An emperor penguin shelters one egg on top of his feet beneath his belly fold.

Penguins warm their eggs.

Zara Can you spot the egg?
A gray emperor penguin chick stands beside a black-and-white adult on the ice.A gray emperor penguin chick stands beside a black-and-white adult on the ice.A gray emperor penguin chick stands beside a black-and-white adult on the ice.

The chick makes a hole in the shell. It chips and chips at it. At last, the chick is in the world!

An adult emperor penguin bends down to feed a gray chick from its bill.An adult emperor penguin bends down to feed a gray chick from its bill.An adult emperor penguin bends down to feed a gray chick from its bill.

Penguins feed their chicks.

An adult brings up food from its gut. The chick pokes its bill in to get it.

A gray emperor penguin chick stands beside a black-and-white adult on the ice.A gray emperor penguin chick stands beside a black-and-white adult on the ice.A gray emperor penguin chick stands beside a black-and-white adult on the ice.

A penguin chick has soft fluff called down. Down does not stop water from getting in. So the chick does not swim yet.

An emperor penguin walks across the ice toward the sea.An emperor penguin walks across the ice toward the sea.An emperor penguin walks across the ice toward the sea.

In time, the chick gets a fresh set of feathers. Then it can walk to the water and swim.

Adult paper emperor penguins stand close together in a huddle on sea ice.Adult paper emperor penguins stand close together in a huddle on sea ice.Adult paper emperor penguins stand close together in a huddle on sea ice.

Some penguins stand close to keep warm.

Eli Can you spot any gaps in this bunch?
Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.

Some penguins live in warm places. Their homes are not on ice.

Zara Look at the rocks!
Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.

Penguins can get very hot.

These penguins can hide in lava cracks and caves.

Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.Two paper Galapagos penguins stand on dark volcanic rocks beside the sea.

These penguins swim in the water, as well. They dive to get fish.

Eli Where would you hide from the sun?
An emperor penguin and chick stand in front of a colony scattered across the ice.An emperor penguin and chick stand in front of a colony scattered across the ice.An emperor penguin and chick stand in front of a colony scattered across the ice.

Give wild penguins lots of space. Do not chase them or pick them up. Just stand back and look.

An emperor penguin swims underwater with its flipper-shaped wings spread in a stroke.An emperor penguin swims underwater with its flipper-shaped wings spread in a stroke.An emperor penguin swims underwater with its flipper-shaped wings spread in a stroke.
Eli Can you spot the flippers?
Zara What helps a penguin zig and zag?
An emperor penguin walks across the ice toward the sea.An emperor penguin walks across the ice toward the sea.An emperor penguin walks across the ice toward the sea.

A penguin's feet help it zig and zag. Its flippers help it zip.

Zara See you in the water, penguin!

Think about it

  1. Can a penguin fly?

    Show the answer

    No! It flaps its wings to swim.

A paper emperor penguin stands on sea ice beside blue water.A paper emperor penguin stands on sea ice beside blue water.A paper emperor penguin stands on sea ice beside blue water.

Pick a page from this book. Tell a friend what a penguin can do.

The end

Penguin: Wings for the Sea

See the printed pages
Front cover of Penguin: A Life Between Ice and Sea, Fold 4The next fold upPenguin: A Life Between Ice and SeaFold 4 · Explorer · Ages 10–12 All six books

For grown-ups

Read the three pictured words on page 3 together first: penguin, flipper and feather. Then let your child read the story to you. If penguin, flipper or feather stops them, point back to that word and its picture on page 3. Sound out every other word together; a few, such as bird, warm, food and feet, use letter patterns taught later, so read those for them. Zara and Eli ask questions along the way. The pictures on pages 24 to 26 show Galapagos penguins; every other penguin scene shows emperor penguins. The words say when a fact applies to only some penguins. Turn the book upside down to read the quiz answer on page 30. Children needing shorter text can start with Fold 1, Go, Penguin, Go! For a longer book in chapters, try Fold 4, Penguin: A Life Between Ice and Sea.

Short sentences for children starting to read on their own, with a picture on every reading page and useful new words taught first.

Ages
8–10
Trim
6 × 9 in
Pages
32
Words
492
Reading grade
0.5
See the printed pages

From the penguin facts episode of our video series. All six books tell this fact too.