Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater, is one of the very best books I ever read as a child. Excellent for reading aloud, and written with just the right mix of easy and advanced vocabulary to challenge the intermediate reader. This is a Newbery Honor book.
The story is that of the Popper family. Mr. Popper paints houses, and, in his spare time, he reads about the South Pole. When a letter to Admiral Drake brings him a penguin, Mr. Popper’s adventures begin. Pretty soon, he’s trying to make ends meet and support twelve penguins. And that’s when things get pretty amusing.
Whatever you do, add this book to your kid’s shelf.