Penguin poems are fun and perfect for Penguin Awareness Day, January 20.  were chosen because they teach children about penguins through the facts included in the penguin poems.

Penguin Poems | Facts About Penguins

Some of the penguin facts that can be found in the penguin poems are:

  • penguins are flightless birds
  • penguin wings are called flippers that let them swim fast
  • penguins eat seafood
  • penguins can drink salt water because they have a filter
  • penguins have layers of blubber and feathers that keep them warm
  • penguins have white bellies and black backs to keep them safe from predators below and above
  • penguins are found in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos Islands

Penguin Awareness Day

The origin for Penguin Awareness Day and chosen date could not be found, but World Penguin Day is enjoyed on April 25 because it is the around the time of penguins’ northward migration.

Penguin Treats, Crafts, and Movies

But, first, before you read the fun penguin poems with children for Penguin Awareness Day, make it a special event with some yummy homemade penguin treats and snacks: snack cake penguins, penguin sugar cookies, penguin brownie pops, penguin cupcakes, and penguin cake pops.

And after reading the penguin poems, make penguin crafts and watch one of these penguin videos:

8 Penguin Poems

Penguin Poems #1

Penguins and Me

by Nana

Penguins are warm blooded,
and so am I.
Penguin swim,
and so do I.
Penguin eat fish,
and so do I.
Baby penguins talk a lot,
and so do I.
Penguins can’t breathe under water,
and neither do I.
Penguins don’t fly,
and neither do I.
Penguins like to slide, dive,
and the waves they ride,
and so do I.
Is it a penguin I’d like to be…
Penguins live where its very cold
and some where its very hot,
I think the answer is…
I’d rather not.

Penguin Poems #2

The Penguin

I am a bird you know quite well,
All dressed in black and white.
And even though I do have wings
They’re not designed for flight.

I waddle, waddle, waddle,
On my funny little feet.
Across the icy snow I go
To find a fishy treat!

Penguin Poems #3

Penguin

I know a bird
That cannot fly:
Penguin is its name.
It cannot fly,
But it can swim
With speed that wins it fame!

I know a bird
That lives on ice
And waddles by the sea.
It looks so cute
In its black-and-white suit,
As handsome as can be!

Penguin Poems #4

Mr. Penguin

On top of an iceberg,
All covered with snow,
I saw my first penguin.
I wanted to know:
Oh is it a bird?
Or is it a fish?
I looked at his feathers,
And knew which was which.
I said, “Mr. Penguin,
Which species are you?”
He said, “I’m emperor,
And not a gentoo.”
I said, “Mr. Penguin,
What’s under your patch?”
He said, “It’s an egg,
It’s ready to hatch.”
Oh where is your wife?”
“She’s out in the ocean,
She’ll be back tonight.”
Said Mr. Penguin,
“Her name is Jill.
She’s out in the ocean,
Feeding on krill.”
The next thing I knew,
I heard a peep.
And I saw a chick,
At the emperor’s feet.

Penguin Poems #5

Penguin Parade

Waddle, waddle, waddle,
From side to side.
Penguins go a-walking,
Slip, slip, slide.

With a funny jump,
The penguins dash
Down to the water,
Splash! Splash! Splash!

Waddle from the the water,
With a rock’n roll
Penguins go parading,
On a wintry stroll.

Penguin Poems #6

Emperor Penguins

by Barry Louis Polisar
Huddled close together
Against the snow and sleet,
Penguins at the pole
Pool their boddy heat.

They gather in a circle,
Steadfast, disciplined,
Turning toward the center,
Fighting off the wind.

Sharing warmth and comfort
On cold and icy floes,
Balancing their future
Gently, on their toes.

Penguin Poems #7

In Praise of Penguins

These funny birds in fancy clothes
may waddle in the snow,
but when they reach the icy sea
Just watch how fast they go!
Their song sounds like a donkey’s bray,
they cannot soar or fly,
yet penguins manage very well,
and let me tell you why…
Their feathers keep out water,
their blubber keeps out cold,
their wings make perfect paddles
because they do not fold!
their tails are good for steering,
they brake with both their feet –
So tell me now, from all you’vve heard…
Aren’t penguins NEAT?

Penguin Poems #8

All the Penguins

They are playing on an ice patch,
They are jumping in the sea.
All the penguins are together,
Having fun so playfully!

There are big ones, there are small ones,
And then some are in between.
But they’re having fun together,
Where the air is cold and clean.

When they walk they kind of waddle,
Back and forth from side to side,
Playing in the cold Antarctic,
They would never come inside!

It is in that cold Antarctic,
That’s the land that they call home.
Full of snow and icy water,
From that cold they will not roam!