Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater - Mr. Popper's Penguins: Literature Guide

Pros: Amusing story, Newbery Honor book, still popular 68 years after publication
Cons: Parts sound a bit dated

Mr. Popper was the town painter. He painted houses all during the season of nice weather. But Mr. Popper was also a dreamer. This made for some interestingly-colored houses, as he would sometimes forget the color he was supposed to be using while in...

Pros: Amusing story, nicely illustrated
Cons: None

This was one of my first books, and I immediately got hooked on penguins for life (check out my nickname...) I now have hundreds (none alive, unfortunately) in my house, to the dismay of my long-suffering husband, and it all started with Mr. Popper.
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Pros: Entertaining to the younger audience
Cons: Some family values out of sorts

Have you ever had an unusual pet live in your home? Can you imagine keeping a penguin and then making it the most important warm-body in the house? Well, that's what this book is all about.

It's quite a humorous story for 2nd-4th graders....