I've also read Ant in this series and Penguin is similar, in that there is more cultural history in it than natural history. However, the balance is more even here and, I think, the better for it.

The accounts of human interaction with penguins are by turns entertaining, moving and depressingly inevitable when dealing with the wholesale slaughter of penguins for their oil.

There are loads of penguin photos and illustrations, which really enhance the text. And at the back there is a short penguin timeline and description of all the extant penguin species.

If there had been more about penguin evolution and ecology, I'd have given this four stars. Still, enjoyable and I will be looking to get some more books from the series.

( )