Pick up a penguin...

So, following on from my feature on Puffin Books, is a brief introduction to vintage Penguins, some of which will find their way into the eclectic Little Book Room Shop. 
It's difficult to choose from so many titles, so I thought a good place to start would be a very literal one in terms of 'penguin-ness': the first book to feature is thus a history of polar exploration by L.P. Kirwan; not just because it is a Penguin Book, but also for its foray into the virtually impenetrable frozen realms of Antarctica (this book in fact includes the North Pole too, albeit less relevant to our present discussion of penguins...) The ill-fated south-polar expedition headed by Captain Scott is just one example documented and (elsewhere) Scott is quoted as having said to his wife, 'Tell Peter [viz their young son] I'll bring him back a penguin...' 
Well, you don't need to go all the way to Antarctica to pick up a penguin now: the handsome fellow, pictured below, who features in our latest @blackbirdsandme Instagram post too, is an Ian Williams penguin, available from the Brae Fasach gallery at Waternish on Skye.  Having said which, our annual trek from Devon to Skye may sometimes be likened to a polar expedition, and Waternish itself is one of Skye's most far-flung corners, but it really is worth the journey!
Ian's ceramic penguin might seem a little bit of an indulgence on a 'shoestring' budget but we have had our eye on one for a long time and its simplicity of form suits my mid-century modern scheme brilliantly. For slightly more budget penguins of the book variety, keep an eye on our Little Book Room features and Shop for frequent additions! 

​For more information on Skye and the Waternish Peninsula, see 
https://www.visit-waternish.co.uk 
& https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/isle-skye/ 
For Ian's Penguins, go and visit www.braefasach.co.uk, : a personal polar trek to this destination is recommended, as penguins are fragile as well as flightless and don't travel very well...
For further details on our Penguin Book title, a history of polar exploration by L.P. Kirwan and a brief synopsis, please see my Little Book Room.  My next post will feature vintage Penguin Book number two!