Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin

By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson

This is yet another wonderful picture book created by the award-winning British partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, they of the well-known Gruffalo series. They have also collaborated on Zog, Super Worm, Snail and the Whale, Smeds and Smoos and many more picture books which have been made into animated films for the BBC.

Jonty is a young Gentoo penguin who longs to find his true home at the South Pole. One night, against the advice of his aunts, he sneaks out of the zoo and sets off on a long, arduous, yet amazing adventure, all the way to Antarctica (with a slight detour via the Arctic North Pole, where he is helped by a migrating tern and some kind polar scientists to continue his journey south!)

The book has perfect read-aloud rhyming text, iceberg laden end papers and fun illustrations of the natural world, with lots of details to spot, including seals, polar bears, birds, whales, other sea creatures . . . and lots and lots of different types of penguins!

Children will be cheering Jonty on, as he finally finds his way, in this captivating story of bravery, friendship, and finding your place in the world.

Concluding with some extra true facts about these cute and clever Gentoo penguins why not join this plucky little fellow on the journey of a lifetime?

Recommended for readers 3+

Teacher notes 

Scholastic Ltd UK

Julia Donaldson

Axel Scheffler