Module 2: Mr. Popper's Penguins & Caps for Sale

Mr. Popper's Penguins 

by Richard and Florence Atwater

Summary: House painter, Mr. Popper, receives an unexpected surprise at the end of his painting season from hero Admiral Drake.  In response to his letters, Admiral Drake send him his very own penguin.  Despite his efforts to make him feel comfortable in his new home, even the newly made icebox house doesn't seem to make Mr. Popper's new penguin, Captain Cook, happy.  Mr. Popper send a letter to a curator at an aquarium that has a solo penguin and they send their penguin to Mr. Popper so they can keep each other company.  After Greta arrives, both penguins return to their happy state and Greta soon becomes a mother of ten penguins.  Mr. Popper must turn his basement into a freezing plant in order to accommodate these Antarctic  creatures.  In addition to this, he has fish brought in daily for his pets.  Unfortunately, he and Mama don't have enough money to cover these expenses and they begin to worry. Mrs. Popper and Mr. Popper teach the penguins some impressive tricks and when a theater owner comes to town they take their penguin act to show him. The owner and crowd fell in love with the penguin act and Mr. Popper's penguins were hired to go on tour throughout the country.  They have several successful acts but run into some problems when Mr. Popper accidentally takes them to the wrong theater where seals are performing.  Ultimately, the penguins are having a hard time surviving in North America's climate. Admiral Drake comes back and ask Mr. Popper if the penguins can go to the Arctic to start a population of penguins there.  Mr. Popper agrees only because it is best for the penguins.  At the last minute, Mr. Popper realizes that Admiral Drake wants him to come with him.  Mr. Popper finally gets to follow his dream of traveling the world by going to the Arctic and Mama takes their earning from the shows home with Bill and Janie.

Atwater, R. and Atwater, F. (1938).  Mr. Popper's penguins.  New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

My Impression:  I give this book an A-. This is clearly a classic that has and will continue to stand the test of time.  Mr. Popper is a fun loving man.  Just like most kids dream of having a pet, including Mr. Popper's kids, he too dreams of having a pet penguin.  This is a great way for readers to connect to the story and it happens at the beginning to the readers get hooked quickly.  From making huge alterations in his home to walking Captain Cook on a leash while dressed like a penguin himself, this story is sure to have the reader laughing.    This lovable and humorous story is sure to keep readers entertained for generations to come.  Although all of the things stand true, readers might need a gentle nudge from a librarian or adult towards this book.  Once they give it a try, they are sure to love it.

Professional Reviews:

Book Links (2010)
(Gr: 1-4): A penguin named Captain Cook arrives at Mr. Popper's house courtesy of Admiral Drake.  The penguin is sad until the Poppers purchase a second penguin - Greta.  Captain Cook and Greta have 10 chicks.  "They were Nelson, Columbus, Louisa, Jenny, Scott, Magellan, Adelina, Isabella, Ferdinand, and Victoria."  The Poppers run out of money feeding the penguins and altering the house, so they become a traveling show - The Popper Performing Penguins.  This book made its first appearance in 1938.

Reid, R. (2010). Reid-aloud alert. Book Links, 19(4), 30-31. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/booklinks


Library Uses:  After collaborating with a teacher or teachers, plan to use a section of Mr. Popper's Penguins as a read a loud.  Working in conjunction with a teacher's polar unit or penguin unit, students could make a list of the different things Mr. Popper will need to do for Captain Cook in order for him to survive in America.

Caps for Sale 

by Esphyr Slobodkina

Summary:  A peddler travels around town trying to sell hats for fifty cents a piece from a stack which he wears on his head.  After an unsuccessful morning, he wanders off to find a nice place to rest.  After meticulously checking to make sure he had his own hat, in addition to all the gray caps, brown caps, and red caps he chooses a nice tree to lean against for a short nap.  When he awakens from his nap, he soon discovers that all of his hats are missing.  He looks all around the tree and can't find his hats anywhere.  Finally he looks up only to find that there are monkeys in the tree each wearing one of his hats.  He argues with the monkeys shaking his fist and stomping his feet.  The monkeys mimic him only creating more frustration for the peddler.  Out of anger he finally throws his own hat on the ground and all the monkey follow.  He happily gathered up all of his hats and went back into town to sell them.

Slobodkina, E. (1940). Caps for sale. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

My Impression: I give this book an A+.  This is a cute story that would be an easy read for beginning readers.  I found the story line to be very simplistic.   Kids will love mimicking the interactions between the peddler and monkeys as well as quoting the peddler as he say, "Caps, caps for sale.  Fifty cents a cap."  This book is a childhood favorite for many, including myself, but compared to titles today it might not be circulated as much as other titles.

Professional Reviews:

"Caps for Sale" was first published in 1938 and still sells steadily, as generation after generation of children demands that the cheerfully repetitive words be read and reread.

Goldman, A.L. (2002, July 27). Esphyr Slobodkina, 93, artist and author, dies. The New York Times. 

Pre S - Grade 3: Esphyr Slobodkina's classic tale (Scholastic pap., 1984) has been a long time story hour favorite in many communities.  In this familiar tale, the peddler gets his caps taken by the monkey in the tree and then, accidentally, gets them to return his merchandise when the peddler stomps his feet and throws his own cap down to the ground.  The cassette will provide the opportunity for many youngsters to listen to this tale again and again.  The lively introductory music gets reader attention immediately.  Once the reading of the story starts, the music dramatically stops.  The male narrator uses enough drama in his voice to make the reading interested but not stilted.  One can almost imagine being withe the peddler as he peddles his caps.  The read along sound track uses the sound of a page being turned to signal listeners.  This well produced package should have wide use in libraries and classrooms as well as for home circulation.  

McElmeel, S. (1998). Recordings [Review of the sound recording Caps for sale by Esphyr Slobodkina]. School Library Journal, 34(6), 54.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:  Great for use in the library with young readers.  The length of the text makes it a great book to read aloud and have students reread the text with you.  It could also be used to reiterate color words that kindergarten is learning and math lessons could be incorporated as well.  Ask the students questions such as, "How many hats would the peddler still have if the monkey only took the red hats?"  This would also be an easy story for students to retell through acting out.