by Richard; Atwater, Florence Atwater
First published 1978
Mr. Popper faces a growing crisis in his household. He already struggles to provide for his wife, son Bill, and daughter Janie on his modest income. Then twelve penguins arrive and join the family. Suddenly Mr. Popper must feed sixteen mouths instead of four. The birds eat constantly and the grocery bills mount. The family budget stretches to the breaking point. Mrs. Popper worries about their finances while the children delight in their unusual pets. Mr. Popper watches the penguins waddle through his house and notices something remarkable about their behavior. These birds possess natural talent and charm. An idea forms in his mind. Perhaps the penguins could earn their keep by performing on stage. Theater audiences would surely enjoy watching trained penguins in action. This wild plan might solve the family's money troubles while keeping their beloved birds. The story follows Mr. Popper as he transforms from a struggling provider into an unlikely animal trainer, discovering that sometimes the most unexpected solutions create the most joy.
Genres: animals, family-life, comedy
Vibes: emotional, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
148 pages · Paperback · Yearling