Penguin Book of Penguins by Peter Fretwell

A charming and beautifully illustrated book about the world’s most beloved birds, written by a leading scientist at the British Antarctic Survey and illustrated by his wife.

There’s something about penguins. Maybe it is their comical waddle, or the fact that their upright gait makes them look like humans. Whatever the reason, their cult following around the world is indisputable.

The Penguin Book of Penguins is a joyful, informative book that introduces us to the main species of penguin and the fascinating lives they lead- their history, evolution, behaviours and habitats.

As leading British Antarctic scientist Peter Fretwell shows, many of the distant places penguins inhabit face threats to their existence through human interaction and climate change. It’s time we learned what the future holds for these most beloved of birds.

About the Author: DR PETER FRETWELL is an award-winning cartographer and lead scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, renowned for being a world expert in emperor penguins. He pioneered the use of satellite imagery to find and monitor polar wildlife, which led to him discovering more than half of the world’s emperor penguin colonies. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has completed six field seasons in Antarctica. In 2020, he published the award-winning book Antarctic Atlas, which was a Financial Times Book of the Year.

LISA FRETWELL has been a working artist and teacher for over twenty-five years. She has exhibited her work in the Smith’s Gallery in London and in New York. She produced the line drawings and edited the book Antarctic Atlas alongside Peter.

18 Sep 2025
 

The Penguin Book of Penguins: An Expert’s Guide to the World’s Most Beloved Bird by Peter Fretwell ISBN 9780241732069