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The Penguin Lessons

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The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell

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By Tom Michell

avg rating

5 reviews

Set against Argentina’s turbulent years following the collapse of the corrupt Peronist regime, this is the story of Juan Salvador the penguin, rescued by Tom from an oil slick in Uruguay just days before a new term.

Reviews

28 Jun 2017

This was an impulse borrow from my son who loves penguins!! It is a heart warming, comforting story about challenges encountered; including crossing borders, smuggling a penguin, living with a penguin...

Totally absorbing.

12 May 2017

FabLibrarian

The author reflects on his adventures as a young man teaching at a boarding school in Argentina. Full of enthusiasm as he explores South America, his life takes a very unexpected turn when he finds a penguin close to death after being swept ashore in an oil spill off the coast of Uruguay.

Tom’s delight at his success in rescuing “Juan Salvador” is tempered by the sudden realisation that by cleaning him he may have ruined the penguin’s waterproofing. There seems to be no other option but to take Juan back to Argentina.

To say that Juan Salvador is a huge hit with everyone at the school – both staff and boys – would be an understatement. A friendly and funny character who seems to empathise whenever someone decides to confide in him, Juan brings happiness to all those you know him.

I loved this true, heart-warming account of life in a fascinating country with an equally fascinating companion!

23 Oct 2016

"I was hoping against hope that the penguin would survive because as of that instant he had a name, and with his name came the beginning of a bond which would last a life-time."

The Penguin Lessons is a true story about a beautiful friendship between a man and a penguin.

I'm currently reading this book now and I'm really enjoying it. It's different to the type of books I usually read but it has 100% hooked me!

07 Jan 2016

This lovely book should be read by everyone, the writing is beautiful, funny and so uplifting. I don't know of anyone who wouldn’t enjoy it. Juan Salvador is my new best friend and I already miss him.

16 Nov 2015

karen

What a lovely little book! Perfect for all penguin fans.

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