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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book feels very familiar ... like I've heard the title thousands of times, and have been aware of it, but I had never read it! As I've done a lot of thrift store shopping for my Little Free Library, I'm a little surprised I haven't come across a copy. During my #middlegradeMay2025 I figured I'd give this a go, and borrowed the audio and Kindle copy from the library.
The audio was great - not "graphic audio" as has become so popular today (I have to be in the mood for the "dramatized adaptation but there were some sound effects, a doorbell, piano music, etc. Single narrator though. 3rd person. Past tense. Some illustrations in the Kindle copy, that one wouldn't get with the audiobook.
This felt "young" ... often I'll consider the "suggested audience" to be around the same age as the main character. Here, Mr. Popper is a father with a wife and a couple of kids, but 30-somethings aren't the intended audience ... more 8-10 or so? I could see this being read to a class of 2nd or 3rd graders.
Penguins have had a resurgence of popularity in the book world, with [book:How the Penguins Saved Veronica|50519007] ... I think I've read a couple others featuring penguins too. My 3.75* rating is more of a "I actually enjoyed this, it made me smile, I bet I would have loved this when I was young" rating. There are definitely some issues looking at it through adult eyes, and modern eyes (especially the end, introducing a non-native species into the Arctic? Um ... no) but overall, it's all just silly fun.
I took a peek at a preview of the 2011 movie ... um ... that looks like they changed things up a LOT!
The audio was great - not "graphic audio" as has become so popular today (I have to be in the mood for the "dramatized adaptation but there were some sound effects, a doorbell, piano music, etc. Single narrator though. 3rd person. Past tense. Some illustrations in the Kindle copy, that one wouldn't get with the audiobook.
This felt "young" ... often I'll consider the "suggested audience" to be around the same age as the main character. Here, Mr. Popper is a father with a wife and a couple of kids, but 30-somethings aren't the intended audience ... more 8-10 or so? I could see this being read to a class of 2nd or 3rd graders.
Penguins have had a resurgence of popularity in the book world, with [book:How the Penguins Saved Veronica|50519007] ... I think I've read a couple others featuring penguins too. My 3.75* rating is more of a "I actually enjoyed this, it made me smile, I bet I would have loved this when I was young" rating. There are definitely some issues looking at it through adult eyes, and modern eyes (especially the end, introducing a non-native species into the Arctic? Um ... no) but overall, it's all just silly fun.
I took a peek at a preview of the 2011 movie ... um ... that looks like they changed things up a LOT!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No