Penguins have a curious magnetism that compels us to love them. Is this because they seem like us? They walk like us. They dress in tuxedoes like us. And perhaps, because of this, we think they should act like us. We've created a human image of penguins; cute clones that marry for life and live happily ever after as devoted parents, rearing their families in a world of snow and ice. Zoologist Lloyd Spencer Davis dispels this fairytale view of penguins, replacing it with startling revelations about their lifestyles, seduction techniques and survival secrets. These are not colourless little polar people; these are raunchy birds that want to be fish. The author's clear-eyed, direct style has a zest and wit that conveys the complexity of the natural world; the world where these birds lead such astonishing lives. His enthusiasm, his sense of wonder and beauty are delightfully infectious, his dynamic advocacy of the conservationist's cause wholly persuasive.

Accolades

Winner of New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards: Non-Fiction Award 2002.
Winner of New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards: Children's Book of the Year 2002.

Author Biography

Lloyd Spencer Davis fits easily into the category of creative nonfiction writing. He received the PEN (NZ) Best First Book Award for Non-fiction for Penguin: a Season in the Life of the Adelie Penguin, the story of Antarctica as seen through the eyes of a penguin. His next book, The Plight of the Penguin, won Book of the Year at the 2002 NZ Post Children's Book Awards, as well as winning the non-fiction category at the same awards. He received a CLL Writer's Award in 2005. In addition, Lloyd is a director and scriptwriter of natural history documentaries - his films having won 12 international awards to date