A review by jcpdiesel21
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

3.0

This book serves as this winter's school-wide book for the elementary school where I work. If I had originally read this when I was a child, I probably would have easily loved it. Having penguins as a pets would be slightly inconvenient but pretty incredible, and the close relationship that Mr. Popper develops with the penguins is very sweet. However, as an adult I found it difficult to overlook how unrealistic a lot of the events of the story are. Mr. Popper apparently has the most understanding and flexible family ever, not to mention amazingly patient people to which he owes money. His choice at the end of the book makes sense given how he feels about the penguins, but shows a serious lack of responsibility as head of his household. If you can get past the plot holes and ridiculous events, this can be a pretty fun read; sadly, adulthood ruined it a bit for me.