The Penguins are coming to the Calgary Zoo. The last time I saw penguins in real life was at the Montréal Biodôme. It was quite an experience. When I wrote the book Little Blue

Little Blue Penguin by Patricia L. Atchison

Penguin, I never knew that a few years later, I’d have the privilege of seeing penguins once more so close to home.

Although the Calgary Zoo’s Penguin Plunge exhibit (opening February 17, 2012) won’t have the Little Blue or Fairy Penguins that my book is related to, they will have four species from the penguin family including: Humboldt, Gentoo, Rockhopper and Kings. Two, the Rockhopper and Gentoo face serious challenges in the wild with declining populations.

To welcome these special guests, the Calgary Zoo created a Polar Paradise, where as soon as you enter the new exhibit, you will feel a blast of cold air, with the indoor temperature being 7 degrees (45F), which in the middle of the hot summer will feel great! Visitors are surrounded by the playful and energetic penguins within their rocky outcroppings and cold water. The exhibit features holes in the ice where penguins can swim through and a surface where they can waddle with ease. The ice and rock formations provide a natural habitat, while flickering lights of the Aurora Australis create a mood that visitors will be equally impressed with.

The ultimate goal of the Calgary Zoo is, “To leave visitors with a love of penguins and the inspiration and knowledge to do what they can to help them. Interacting with the animals, showcasing their natural habitat and sharing the challenges penguins currently face are all part of the plan for the facility.”

Fairy Penguin, photo credit Copyright iStockphoto / Sky Creative

When I wrote Little Blue Penguin, about a penguin ‘stuffie’ who co-incidentally gets lost at the zoo, I never thought that the Calgary Zoo would one day be hosting penguins. Not one of the four featured at the zoo, another species of penguin is the ‘Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor)’ or ‘Fairy Penguins’. This breed is the smallest species of penguin. They grow to 40 centimeters (about 16 to 17 inches) tall and weigh around 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds). They are found in the Sub-Antarctic regions south of New Zealand. Also called ‘Little Blues’, these small burrow-nesting birds have indigo-blue and slate-grey coloured feathers.

The Little Blue Penguin book is about a favourite stuffie friend to a little girl named Becky. Little Blue Penguin’s emotions shine colourfully when a journey from the toy store takes him to a new home and into Becky’s arms. His world is happy and loving until an outing at the zoo finds him lost and alone. As Little Blue Penguin faces different emotions, he shines different colours, thus allowing the reader to learn their colours.
For ages two and up, this book has become a favourite amongst playschool-aged children and is a good night-time read.

Be sure to visit the Calgary Zoo’s Penguin Plunge and see penguins in action as they play and entertain throughout the day. If you are looking for an entertaining children’s picture book be sure to visit Wood Lily Publishers for more information.