Penquin People

Penguins cautiously reside

on our planet's underside,

where they're careful not to cough,

lest they trip and tumble off.

- by Jack Prelutsky

It all started with a Movie
called 'Happy Feet'.

Then it was cemented, last October, with a visit
to the Melbourne Aquarium,

where her mother bought her a
small collection of five plastic penquins
that cost about $14.

That was the start of a
beautiful friendship.

Elliana and her penquins.

None of us could really understand

the attraction at first.

These funny looking birds with

their flightless bodies,

were the last thing

 that we would have thought

would endear a small child

to themselves.

But Ellie could see something

that we were all missing.

So we paid some more attention

to the Penquin people,

and the more we learned

about these little guys,

dressed in their suits of black and white...

... how they all care for each other...

...and the shenanigans they each got up to...

...well, it became quite clear just how

endearing indeed, these little creatures are.

Though they are not made

of the same 'stuff' as her Bed Bunnies,

these cute guys take up a

large part of Ellie's playtime.

They are also fabulous bath toys

when it is her bath time.

Penquins have alway held some sort

of facination for children,

as is apparent from these old toys, below:

(now quite valuable, I might add!)

What  toy companion did you,

your child or grandchild, 

cherish during childhood??

Yes, as you may have guessed...

we are now ALL Penquin People.

(Photo taken at Melbourne Aquarium)