Living only in the southern hemisphere, there are seventeen different kinds of penguins. With bright watercolor illustrations and kid-friendly language, Gail Gibbons introduces these black and white birds, describing where and how they live, what they eat, and how they hatch their young.

An exploration of the egg-laying and chick-raising habits of the emperor penguin is also included, describing how these large penguins take care of their babies in extremely cold temperatures, working together to look after one large egg at a time.

Readers will also learn about threats to penguin populations, and what conservation efforts have been made to help preserve them. A collection of penguin facts is also included.