The Nature of Penguins is a very interesting book. It was well researched and is full of colour pictures of penguins from across the globe. There is also a lot of interesting information regarding the behaviour of penguins, from what they eat, to where they live, to how fast they can swim. Researched over a course of 15 years, this book is as accurate and detailed as possible. Penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. They vary in size from the metre-high emperor penguins to 30 centimetre-tall little blue penguins. Penguins came into existence about 50 million years ago. Over the years, as they lost the ability to fly, they evolved streamlined bodies and stiff wings that make it more than natural for them to swim. Penguins are excellent swimmers and divers. I learned a lot of facts from reading this book. I enjoyed looking at the photographs and would recommend it for ages 9 and up. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

(Originally published in the Mar/Apr 2002 issue of YES Mag.)