Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa illustrated by Jun Takabatake*

My eight year old read this book to himself in one afternoon.
Giraffe wants a friend so he writes a letter which he pass along to Pelican with instructions to give it to the first animal he sees.  Penguin is the one who receives the letter and writes back.  A correspondence and friendship is established.
The book consists of letters exchanged between the two plus narration.
My son really liked it and found it humorous.
-Perfect for reluctant readers.
***First published in Japan.
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.

Penguin Problems by Jory John illustrated by Lane Smith

My boys and I did not like this book at all.
A penguin spends most of the book complaining why he does not like being a penguin.  His bad attitude and pessimistic outlook are quite overwhelming.  Mr. John certainly does an excellent job portraying a whiny, spoiled kid (although in this case, a penguin).
I could see using this book to show a child who has a continual bad attitude how it may feel to be around him/her.
My youngest thought the book was boring.
The cover is adorable.
-Borrowed from the library.

Dragon's Extraordinary Egg by Debi Gliori

Bib, the penguin, begs his mother to  read his favorite bedtime story about a dragon taking care of an egg.
Can you guess who the grandmother is in this story?

Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers

The boy and penguin are back (from Lost and Found).  In this story penguin longs to fly.  The boy tries to convince him that it is not possible but penguin is determined.  Boy is determined to save penguin.
A sweet story about loyalty and friendship.
Guided Reading Level: K (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 3

Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle*

I liked this one better than Ms. Idle's Flora and the Flamingo!
Flora is ice skating and a penguin emerges from the ice.  The new friends need to resolve some difference.  A happy ending!
Fun lift the flap illustrations.
Wordless.
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: sequencing, cause/effect, predicting, inferring

Flight School by Lita Judge*

Penguin wants to learn to fly so he attends flight school.  Readers will sympathize with penguin and his teachers as they attempt the seemingly impossible.
Ending is humorous!
Wonderful, adorable illustrations-expressive.
*Highly recommend.  
Strategies: schema (about penguins can't fly); inferring

Penguin and Pumpkin by Salina Yoon

Penguin and his friends sail on an iceberg to the farm to experience fall.
Adorable illustrations!  Love the last sentence.
Part of a series:
Penguin and Pinecone; Penguin on Vacation; Penguin in Love

Penguin in Peril by Helen Hancocks*

Three cats scheme to make their job of finding food easier.  Their solution?  Kidnap a penguin from zoo and have him fish for them.  Can the penguin outsmart the felines?!  I love, love how the penguin manages to escape!
Funny!  Hints in the illustrations foster predicting.
Strategies: predicting, sequencing
*Highly recommend.

The Snow Rocket by Derek Anderson

Romeo (a penguin) and Lou (a polar bear) create a snow rocket one day which actually blasts off and takes them to a different planet (really a city on earth).  Preschoolers and young elementary readers will giggle as the pair make incorrect assumptions about what they see in the city.
The two friends must figure out a way to return to their beloved home.
My four year old asked, "But do polar bears live where penguins live? (He had just learned about the Arctic and Antarctica in preschool)"  I had not even thought about the fact that the two creatures live at opposite poles!  He then said, "Why did the author do that?".
So this "incorrect" character combination may lead to a good discussion about where these animals live and the liberties authors are allowed to take when they write a story!
Strategies: the importance of correct schema to understand, inferring

Baby Penguins Love Their Mama! by Melissa Guion

Six days a week a mama penguin tirelessly teaches her babies all they need to know about being a penguin.  Sundays she collapses!
Simple text and sweet illustrations.

Emperor Penguins Up Close by Carmen Bredeson

A great nonfiction series for preschoolers and beginning readers.
This series divides its sections into different parts of the animal and has a close up photo of that part.
Text structures:  contents, glossary (at the beginning!), diagrams, map, labels, photo captions, flow chart-sequence, learn more section and an index

Antarctic Antics A Book of Penguin Poems by Judy Sierra illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey*

Love this book!
The reader learns about the life of the penguin and reads poetry too.
My favorite poems were the predator riddles.
My boys liked "Regurgitate"!
*Highly recommend.

Tacky in Trouble by Helen Lester illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Tacky is not your typical penguin and annoys the other penguins with his unique antics.  His unusual behavior leads him on an adventure.  The other penguins realize how dull life can be without Tacky!