In recent years, my daughter has become a fan of penguins. I am not really sure when or why this infatuation began, but she now has a growing collection of clothing, jewelry and toys that are penguin-related. Of course, when she saw the Happy Nappers Penguin, she wanted one.

Happy Nappers are not the same as Pillow Pets, which are square pillows with an animal's head, legs and tail that can close with velcro to look more like that animal. Happy Nappers are creatures that live in their own little homes. For example, the dragon has a castle, the dog has a doghouse and the penguin has an igloo.

When it is closed the igloo measures about fourteen inches across and thirteen inches tall.  It is made of a soft, almost terrycloth material and the back is all white while the front has black lines to make it look like ice blocks have built the igloo.  "Home sweet home" is written in black on a blue background above the black circular door, which opens with a black zipper.  Next to the door is a doorbell that, when pressed, allows you to hear the penguin who apparently is snoring during his nap.

After unzipping the doorway, you can easily pull out the penguin inside.  He is about twenty inches long  and mostly black with yellow feet, a yellow beak, and a white face and stomach.  If you just take him out and lay him on the igloo, he remains unstuffed, but looks to be content just lounging there.  To make him into a stuffed penguin, you must take the igloo and stuff it into his back.  Zipping up the doorway (which is now the penguin's lower back area) is easy enough for a teen or adult, but a very young child might have trouble with it.

Once he is stuffed, he can sit up by himself or be played with just like any other stuffed toy.  Be warned, though, the doorbell which makes the snoring sound is now somewhere inside of this toy and if he is squeezed or squished a but, it might make the noise and scare a child who is not expecting it.

This penguin is recommended for ages three and up and is only surface washable.  It should only be air dried as well, and due to the sound mechanism inside I would not chance putting it in the washing machine or clothes dryer.  Even though the penguin is very cute and cuddly, I probably would not choose this particular animal for a very young child because the white igloo would show dirt fast.

The penguin has a fully stuffed head, and his stomach is soft and full as well, but when this is used as an igloo, it is a very lumpy pillow.  This is because the penguin's arms and legs are not stuffed and they are just pushed inside along with the head and slightly stuffed feet.  It is good for leaning on while watching television, but not something I would suggest using for an entire night's sleep.  Rather than actually using it for a pillow, a child would probably enjoy it more as the penguin to cuddle up with during a nap.

It would have been nice if there were straps on the back so that a child could wear it like a backpack to a sleepover, or at least a handle of some sort. 

Our Happy Nappers Penguin is usually in penguin form rather than igloo form, but it is easy enough to switch it back and forth.  When I first saw these toys in stores they were priced at about twenty to twenty-five dollars, but I have seen them recently for about fifteen dollars or less.  It is a very cute penguin and it is fun to put him into his igloo, but it is not the best pillow.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 19.99
Type of Toy: Stuffed Toy
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens