Penguin facts for kids: here are 15 simple, fun facts that are easy to read aloud. Penguins are birds that cannot fly but swim really well, and not all of them live on the ice. Read one fact a day or all at once, and let the questions pop up.

15 fun facts about penguins

1. Penguins are birds. They have feathers and a beak and lay eggs, just like other birds. The difference is that penguins do not fly through the sky. They spend their lives swimming.
2. Their wings became flippers. A penguin’s wings are stiff and long, perfect for paddling in the water. Many penguins swim and hop out of the water to breathe without ever slowing down.
3. Their feathers are special. They are packed tightly and help keep the body dry and warm. A penguin spreads oil on its feathers with its beak, so water rolls right off.
4. The emperor is the biggest. The emperor penguin is the biggest penguin of all. It lives in Antarctica and faces the coldest winter on the planet.
5. There is a very small penguin. The little penguin, which lives on the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, is the smallest of all. Next to an emperor, it looks like a baby.
6. Not every penguin lives on ice. There are penguins in warmer places, like the Galápagos Islands and the coast of South Africa. They live near cool waters that bring fish to the table.
7. There are no penguins at the North Pole. Almost all penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere. The North Pole is home to polar bears. The two never meet in the wild.
8. The white belly is a disguise. Seen from above, the dark back blends in with deep water. Seen from below, the white belly blends in with the light at the surface.
9. They slide like on a sled. On icy ground, many penguins slide on their bellies, pushing with their feet and flippers. It is the most fun way to get around.
10. The egg rides on their feet. The emperor penguin balances its egg on its feet, under a warm fold of skin. In winter, the dad looks after the egg while the mum goes to sea to find food. Once the chick hatches, they take turns.
11. Some penguins build nests of pebbles. The Adélie penguin collects pebbles to build its nest. Sometimes it tries to take a neighbor’s pebbles, how naughty!
12. They keep warm together. Emperor penguins huddle in big groups to beat the cold. They keep swapping places, so nobody stays in the wind all the time.
13. They eat fish, squid and krill. They have no teeth. Their tongues have little spikes that help hold slippery fish. Krill is a tiny crustacean that is very important for animals in Antarctica.
14. Penguins drink seawater. A gland near the eyes helps remove extra salt from the body. Imagine if we could drink seawater too!
15. Parents and chicks know each other by voice. In a noisy colony, emperor penguins recognize each other by their calls. Every penguin has a different voice.

Why penguins cannot fly

Birds that fly have light wings and light bones. Penguins took a different path: over a very long time, their bodies became great for diving. Their bones are heavier and firmer, which helps them sink, and their long bodies cut through water like a torpedo.

Instead of flapping in the air, their wings turned into something like paddles. That is why people say a penguin flies underwater. To try it, open your arms like wings and pretend to swim across the room. You will feel how much easier swimming is than flying! Afterwards, ask: what can a penguin do in the water that we cannot?

Penguin coloring and play

How about drawing a penguin? Grab some free coloring pages, print them and color with a white belly, a black back and an orange beak. If your child wants to, invent a penguin of a different color, just for fun. When you finish, ask your child to tell you what the penguin is doing and where it is going, and make up a little story together.

Another idea is to walk like a penguin: feet together, arms tight against the body and tiny steps across the room. Who can reach the door without laughing? If your child loves stories with animals, show them the free Pigúiça cartoon too.

Pigúiça, who is a husky and loves the cold, would be delighted to meet a penguin. She and her friend Fofuxo have adventures in the Magic Garden, in the book Dogavios, for kids aged 3 to 8.

Frequently asked questions

Is a penguin a bird or a mammal?

It is a bird. It has feathers and a beak, lays eggs and breathes air. The difference is that it cannot fly and spends much of its life at sea.

Do penguins feel cold?

They are well adapted to the places where they live. Tightly packed feathers and a layer of fat help keep them warm, and they huddle together on the coldest days.

What age enjoys these facts?

Usually ages 3 to 8. For the youngest, read only the shortest facts and show pictures. Older kids like to pick a favorite fact and tell someone else. A good way to start is to ask which of the 15 facts surprised your child the most.

Penguin Facts for Kids: 15 Fun Facts to Read Aloud

Your next adventure could be a moment together.