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Winner of the 2025 British Book Award for Book of the Year: Children's Illustrated " Gorgeous ... it has a lovely message about finding your place in the world. " - Good Housekeeping Magazine " A captivating story written in rhyme so perfect that reading it as a bedtime story is a breeze. It's an instant classic. " - The I " Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are the Lennon and McCartney of children's publishing. "- Sunday Times Join a plucky little penguin on the journey of a lifetime, in this fabulous new picture book from superstar author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Jonty the little gentoo penguin longs to find his true home at the South Pole. One night, he sneaks out of the zoo and sets off on an amazing adventure , all the way to Antarctica (with an accidental detour to the North Pole!) Children will be cheering Jonty on as he finally finds his way, in this captivating story of bravery, friendship, and finding your place in the world. Jonty Gentoo is an official UK Number One Children's Bestseller (17 Sept 2024) Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page Fantastic illustrations of the natural world, with lots of details to spot, including seals, polar bears . . . and lots and lots of penguins! This hardback edition comes with a beautifully foiled dust jacket, making it the perfect lifetime gift for any child's library Julia and Axel are the team that have created picture book favourites such as The Gruffalo , Stick Man , Zog and Superworm - all of which have been made into animated films premiering on BBC1 Christmas Day. Review: A cute story for toddlers and young kids - What a cute little story about a zoo pinguin who's longong to the south Pole and manages to escape! My three year old loves this story! It often get's off the shelf. I love the easy language and the beautiful pictures! I would buy it as a present as well! Review: Great book - This is a charming and engaging picture book that’s ideal for younger children. The story follows a curious gentoo penguin who leaves the zoo to search for his real home in Antarctica, taking readers on a fun and adventurous journey along the way. The plot is easy to follow and has a warm message about bravery, friendship, and discovering where you belong. The rhyming text flows really well, making it perfect for reading aloud at bedtime or in the classroom. It keeps children involved and often encourages them to join in with the rhythm and predictable wording. The bright, detailed illustrations also help bring the adventure to life, with plenty of animals and scenery to spot on each page. There’s a nice educational element woven into the story too. Kids can learn about different climates, wildlife, and the difference between animals living in zoos and in the wild, all without it feeling like a lesson. Overall, this is a lovely, feel-good book that younger readers are likely to enjoy again and again. A great choice if you want something fun, gentle, and meaningful to share together.








| Best Sellers Rank | 9,067 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 1 in Early Reader's Rhymes, Verse & Wordplay for Children 1 in Children's Books on Birds 5 in Children's Books on Science, Nature & How It Works |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,211 Reviews |
N**I
A cute story for toddlers and young kids
What a cute little story about a zoo pinguin who's longong to the south Pole and manages to escape! My three year old loves this story! It often get's off the shelf. I love the easy language and the beautiful pictures! I would buy it as a present as well!
D**J
Great book
This is a charming and engaging picture book that’s ideal for younger children. The story follows a curious gentoo penguin who leaves the zoo to search for his real home in Antarctica, taking readers on a fun and adventurous journey along the way. The plot is easy to follow and has a warm message about bravery, friendship, and discovering where you belong. The rhyming text flows really well, making it perfect for reading aloud at bedtime or in the classroom. It keeps children involved and often encourages them to join in with the rhythm and predictable wording. The bright, detailed illustrations also help bring the adventure to life, with plenty of animals and scenery to spot on each page. There’s a nice educational element woven into the story too. Kids can learn about different climates, wildlife, and the difference between animals living in zoos and in the wild, all without it feeling like a lesson. Overall, this is a lovely, feel-good book that younger readers are likely to enjoy again and again. A great choice if you want something fun, gentle, and meaningful to share together.
D**1
Beautiful, well-read book already.
Beautiful story to tell young children. Illustrations are amazing.
J**N
Great story
Perfect birthday gift
S**S
Suitable for a seven year old
My seven year old grandson enjoyed it especially the pictures
J**M
Penguins live in the South Pole.
I bought this for young grandchildren. I was very glad it made it clear that Penguins do not inhabit the North Pole! There are some authors who mislead children on this important distinction. Anyone who has read Julia Donaldson books to children will enjoy the rhythms of the prose, the colourful illustrations and the jeopardy that is resolved.
J**N
Perfect for enquiring little minds
I bought this for my granddaughter, aged 4. She loved the story, very much
D**D
Heart warming and enjoyable to read with good illustrations
We liked this book. Good illustration, catchy rhymes and heart warming. Its similar themes to snail and the whale. So if you liked that then you’ll like this too
P**Z
Vencer los miedos
Es una gran historia para ayidar a vencer los miedos
A**R
Lovely
I sometimes think I enjoy reading the Julia Donaldson books more than my daughter, and this book is a classic example. Lovely story and illustrations
P**3
Fun and classic Julia Donaldson
This is another classic rhyming adventure from Juli Donaldson. Beautifully illustrated, it’s a lovely story of an adventurous Gentoo. One of my favourites from her more recent releases.
D**.
Super
My kids Loved it. Very interesting, funny, and educational. Recommend it.
J**Y
A beautifully written and illustrated penguin adventure
Jonty Gentoo by Julia Donaldson is an absolute delight from start to finish. The story follows a charming penguin and his adventures, making it instantly engaging for little readers and perfect for animal lovers. The rhymes are, as you’d expect, wonderfully crafted—flowing effortlessly and making it such a joy to read aloud. They’re catchy without being repetitive, and my child was completely captivated the whole way through. The story itself is gentle, sweet, and full of heart. Jonty’s penguin adventures add a sense of curiosity, while still carrying a lovely message. The illustrations are just gorgeous—bright, expressive, and full of little details that give you something new to notice each time. They complement the story beautifully and really bring Jonty’s world to life. Overall, this is a charming addition to any child’s bookshelf and a must-have for fans of Julia Donaldson. Highly recommend!
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