Yes, Flipper and Finnegan are two of the Little Penguins who live on Phillip Island, just a little south of Melbourne. They’re called Little Penguins because they really are the smallest penguins in the whole world. People come from around the world to watch these little penguins surfing all together, hundreds and often thousands of them! But one day when Flipper comes up for air, he is covered in something that is black, smelly and sticky. There has been an oil spill and our penguins are in danger.

You see, oily feathers would make the little penguins sick if they tried to preen themselves and the oily feathers wouldn’t keep them warm. But the staff who looked after them had a wonderful idea. They put out a call in the newspapers and on the radio for people to knit tiny little jumpers for the penguins to wear to keep them warm and safe while they wait to be cleaned.

We are told that, since then, 100 000 tiny penguin jumpers have been sent from people all over the world!

This is such a miraculous story and one that children will never forget.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 3+