I distinctly remember picking this one up in our local Library back when Charlotte was a tiny tot. In fact "Penguin" by Polly Dunbar was one of those books that ended up inevitably being added to our library stack on almost every visit.
Back then she was a bouncing tiddler with tons of energy, but can the book still pass muster for a book-fussy 9 year old?
I'm pleased to say it still can - And most of the story's charm is still because of Penguin's almost frustrating 'deadpan' behaviour when young Ben first receives the strange little bird as a gift.
Penguin doesn't respond to anything. He doesn't seem to like Ben's face pulling, and even when fired off to the moon, Penguin returns to earth in exactly the same comatose state.
But perhaps when a big blue Lion eats Ben, Penguin will have his day in the spotlight.
The book is still as utterly delightful as ever, and it's still among the brightest and best books to add to your youngster's collection.
"Penguin" (10th Anniversary Edition) by Polly Dunbar is out now, published by Walker Books (kindly supplied for review).