Publishing in the same year as PENGUIN’S 90th ANNIVERSARY!

All are welcome to a charming, informative talk by Peter Fretwell, a leading scientist at The British Antarctic Survey, and artist Lisa Fretwell. 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. Peter Fretwell has discovered almost half of the world’s emperor penguin colonies. Through his published research, he knows that penguins can convey an urgent message about the importance of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean to the world’s climate, with a strong ecological message running throughout the book. Other interesting information is included, such as the fact that emperor penguins dive twice as deep as any other bird, to the story of a king penguin called Sir Nils Olav III who was made a Major General by the Norwegian Army, and learn about fascinating first-hand encounters (and even penguin jokes and emojis!) and why penguins matter so greatly to all of us.

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, whilst also indulging in the joy they elicit.

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. 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.

Simply wonderful! If you like feeling joy, you’ll love this book. How have we managed without it? – Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree

Wedge-winged waddlers on land; sublime swimmers in southern seas, penguins are some of the most popular birds in all the world. This ace, accessible celebration of all the species – from Kings to Emperors, Gentoos to Macaroons – deftly mixes natural history and human history to explain both their enduring appeal and the many challenges they face – Jon Gower, author of Birdland

You are invited to attend the talk dressed as a penguin, this could mean monochrome attire, with a dash of yellow/orange, a dress suit or a penguin onesie! The choice is yours. AIO will donate a percentage of the ticket cost of all penguins attending to support the work of the WWF UK

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