Puffling Patrol by Ted and Betsy Lewin

"It is the end of August. Soon the adult puffins will be gone to spend the winter in the cold northern seas. The pufflins in the dark burrows will then be on their own."


Puffins are such fascinating birds - aptly called Clowns of the Sea. I have already talked about my "slight" obsession after I read Puffling by the Australian author Margaret Wild and illustrated by Julie Vivas.

Yesterday I found this book from 2012 called Puffling Patrol which is set in Iceland. On the island of Heimaey there is a small town. When the pufflings set off from their burrows, for the first time, the lights of the town confuse them so children and adults mount a puffin patrol to rescue them.

This is a longer picture book which could happily sit in a non fiction section of a library. At the back of the book there is a puffin fact page, reading list and glossary. You could also use the beautiful images in this book for a discussion with children about perspective and perhaps compare this art with the images in Puffling by Margaret Wild.

Image Books Illustrated http://www.booksillustrated.com.au/bi_prints_indiv.php?id=51

Here is an interview with the team behind this book.  Ted and Betsy Lewin have a large number of books well worth investigating. You may know Betsy's work from the wonderful books by Doreen Cronin such as Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type and Duck for President.

Whether sheltered in a box or held carefully in the children’s hands, the pufflings are irresistible. Kirkus

Image Lee & Low https://www.leeandlow.com/books/puffling-patrol/interviews