The Emperor Lays an Egg

By Brenda Z Guiberson, Joan Paley (Illustrator)

Witness a penguin's journey from egg to first swim in Antarctica's harsh beauty.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 78 ratings

32 pages· 813 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

$16.95Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon.

Bookroo's summary

In the heart of Antarctica's winter, an emperor penguin chick begins its life journey. As the father endures months without food to keep the egg warm, the chick hatches into a world of icy challenges. With summer's brief warmth, it grows its iconic feathers, ready for its first swim. Meanwhile, the parents face the relentless task of finding food in the harshest conditions. Will the chick thrive in this unforgiving environment? Experience the beauty and struggle of life in the Antarctic through the eyes of one of its most resilient inhabitants.

From the publisher

Follow as a penguin grows from egg to adulthood in the coldest place on earth.In the middle of winter, in the coldest place on earth, the mother emperor penguin lays her egg. The father rolls the egg onto his feet and keeps it warm. He doesn’t eat or even move for two whole months. Finally the egg hatches. The penguin chick is a tiny ball of gray fluff. The parents have to work hard to get enough food for their baby. The hungry father travels to the ocean to fish. When the short summer comes to Antarctica, the chick grows a shiny coat of black and white feathers. Now it can take its first swim. And the parents fatten themselves up for winter, the long icy season when the emperor penguin lays its egg.Stunning collages of handpainted paper and clear, evocative text capture the beauty and drama of the icy Antarctic world and one of its most fascinating and endearing inhabitants.

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