Alex the Lion: The wild? Are you nuts? That is the worst idea I have ever heard!
Melman the Giraffe: It's unsanitary!
Marty the Zebra: The penguins are going, so why can't I?
Alex the Lion: Marty, the penguins are psychotic.
Skipper the Penguin: You! Higher mammal, can you read?
Private the Penguin: Skipper... don't you think we should tell them that the boat's out of gas?
Skipper the Penguin: Naah... just smile and wave, boys; smile and wave.
Skipper the Penguin: [on arriving at Antarctica] Well, this sucks!
In this bird-loving household, penguins are right up there. They are not everyday birds like the flocks of sulphur-crested cockatoos which graze unhurried on the footpaths around our neighbourhood, but their habits are oddly and endearingly familiar, being, as they are, flightless and aquatic. We get them! We'd like to spend half our time on land and the other half swimming too. Badly.
Furthermore, their plumage is as sharp and neat as a Canberra business suit. Their waddle is amusing but upright, more like ours first thing in the morning, than, say, a pigeon strutting or willie wagtail hopping. And I'm with Skipper, Rico, Kowalski, and Private, who spend their days planning an escape that will take them back to Antarctica... in my case, anywhere by the sea.
The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation: DVD Premiere is our pick for Friday Night, Movie Night this week.
Backpack by Skip Hop Zoo
Book borrowed from the Kingston Library
Logo designed in 1935 for Penguin Books
Dialogue from the script of Madagascar
Bonus list of the top 25 picture books with penguins at Listopia.
