The Secret of the Penguins is a twist on fairytales that say if you kiss a frog, it could turn into a prince. Phillippe was a penguin with rizz. He ends up separated from home and cared for by a kind woman. Surprise surprise, Phillipe is actually a prince! The illustrations are cute; I especially enjoyed Phillipe in penguin form.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This book is such a cute read. It is written for a bit of an older age group than my son but I think he would enjoy it purely for the illustrations. The writing is very well done and I loved the secret reveal. Philipe is a very cute character and in a way relatable.

This was such a cute book, I love the artwork. The story of the penguins magic was so fun.
My kids loved this book, they said they liked the cute penguins and how Phillippe turned in to a prince at the end.

A beautifully illustrated tale of penguins and a special secret they hold, that few know.

Now who doesn’t love a penguin?

Well, here is a tale inspired by the author’s love of fairy tales, the majestic posture and nature of penguins combined with her creative imagination.

My older grandchildren have loved sharing this book with me. The penguins are well drawn and bring these wonderful creatures to life. Philippe is a real star.

The book is a magical one and delivers the story with clarity and in a memorable way.
The revelation of the secret is a surprise and for me seems to interrupt a wider story. The deeper realities of the plight of penguins could have been referenced, a missed opportunity to my mind.
Others may find fault with the link to kissing a frog to become a prince. That would be churlish however, you can’t just redact the history of literature.

This book builds on tradition with a glint in the author’s eye and a dash of poetic licence.

A cute twist on the fairytale The Princess and the Frog but with Penguins because they look more dashing/princely. I liked the message of waiting to find someone who treats you right, the story was sweet and the art was beautiful

Know Your Worth

I definitely agree the tone of this book is written specifically to little girls. I believe the message can still apply towards boys as well. A conversation with any child afterwards about treating people right and essentially not settling for just any treatment from people, but knowing their self-worth.

This book reminded me of a gender spin on the Swan Princess.

“There may be a prince in your future, but it surely won’t come from kissing a frog or penguin. It will come from a person who treats you like the princess you are!” -Judith M. Ackerman

I received a free copy of this book from Judith M. Ackerman and BooksGoSocial. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

This book would be good for little girls. My son likes penguins and liked the pictures but didn't understand the story.
Even as an adult when I got to the end I was like hmmm that actually would make sense! Hahaha

This was a funny little book with cute illustration. I am more inclined to kiss a penguin than a frog, that's for sure.

A delightful story! This book about Phillipe the penguin is adorable. A twist on the typical princess and the frog! The illustrations are cute too. I think this will be perfect for my 7 & 4 year old grandkids!

I think my son will love this book, it’s very adorable! The art is very pretty, and I like that in the beginning it shares some information about how penguins are so clean and proud. I think that was supposed to hint at them being prince-like? I thought Philippe was going to be different than the other penguins, but he was just chatty!

It felt just a little disorganized. I felt like I kept getting led to conclusions that didn’t follow through. When Philippe was said to be “different” I thought it was a story about it being ok to be yourself even if you’re different. When the author specified that Philippe was spilling Walley and Louie’s secret, I thought perhaps we were getting a cute story about a couple of gay penguins and how it’s k to be yourself. Even though it was later specified as the “secret of the penguins” being the secret, I thought it would be about acceptance in one form or another.

It felt like the explorers were marked as “evil kidnappers” and the scientists were “good guys” who treated the penguins kindly. I had to giggle at the fact that the scientists are essentially Stockholm syndrome-ing the penguins. I know no child is going to read into it like that, I’m just sharing because it made me giggle!

I love love love that the kiss that turned Philippe into a prince was a forehead kiss!!!! So sweet, so wholesome! We don’t need romance to be kisses on the lips and love can be as sweet as a forehead kiss and showing compassion when another being is sad. This is a fantastic message <3

This fairy tale is strange and different and interesting and I love it! From now on, I’ll make sure to only kiss penguins!

I was a little sad while reading the author’s note, because the book is very “girl” centric, and I’m looking for more books that are inclusive. Don’t get me wrong - the scientist being a girl is freaking awesome, and Philippe being a boy is not a -problem-
I enjoyed that the author’s note gave some more information about penguins, but I think there rather than “young girls” she could have said “young children” and included princes in the mix too!
(I did not take a star away for that, to be clear.)

Such a sweet and fun read! The pictures were adorable too. This was a great spin on The Princess and the Frog.

The Secrets of the Penguins had a very cute story accompanied by fantastic art (though it did look a little off in places). A very clever twist on the Princess and the Frog, this book is perfect for any children who love fairy tales and/or penguins!

This is a super cute book, poking fun at the classic fairly tail of princess and the frog. The illustrations were very pretty and I loved Phillips’ spirit. I also enjoyed seeing a variety of penguin types in the book. They are such a cute animal and I know children, especially penguin lovers, will enjoy this book.

Lovely story, great illustrations. My son is younger than the suggested age range but would happily sit and listen to this while looking at the pictures; older children would appreciate the twist more :)

The Secret of the Penguins: Fairytales Are Not Just for Frogs by Judith M. Ackerman is a delightful and engaging children’s book that blends whimsy and wisdom into a heartwarming narrative. Ackerman has crafted a unique story that both entertains and educates young readers, offering a charming twist on traditional fairy tales.

The plot revolves around a young scientist girl, who embarks on a journey where she encounters penguins with secrets and life lessons to share. What stands out in this book is the refreshing premise that fairy tales aren't just for frogs or typical characters, but can be enjoyed by a variety of creatures—penguins included. Basically, it a retelling of a retelling.

Author's use of colorful, imaginative illustrations adds an extra layer of charm to the story, enhancing the magical atmosphere. The book is sprinkled with playful humor, making it an enjoyable read-aloud for parents and children alike. The characters of Philippe and young girl given time to develop in this short read and girl's journey encourages curiosity and the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone.

While the book is undeniably enjoyable, some readers may find the pacing a little slow in places, particularly for children who are accustomed to faster-paced illustrated stories. The lessons and themes are valuable, but the storyline occasionally veers into predictability, making it less surprising for older readers. However, the story is still full of heart and younger audiences will likely be captivated by the magical retelling that Ackerman has built.

Overall, The Secret of the Penguins is a wonderful read for me that captured the imaginations of young readers and foster important conversations about courage, self-reliance and the power of storytelling. It’s an excellent choice for families seeking a wholesome, imaginative tale with a touch of magic and meaning for their younger ones, specially a girl child.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-copy of The Secret of the Penguins : Fairytales are not just for Frogsby Judith M Ackerman in exchange for a honest review.This is a cute, whimsical retelling of the old fairy tale when the princess kisses the frog and he turns into a prince except this time the frog is a penguin named Philippe who is different then the other penguins but watch and see what happens when he is captured by a group of scientists..Cute story with beautiful illustrations.