Following the likes of Happy Feet and Madagasgar, the penguin is likened to an endearing sort of underdog character who creeps into our hearts! But what is it about penguins that capture our attention? Is it the cute way they waddle on the beach or the way they become a bulleted blur as they shoot through the water like torpedos?

Peter, Pamela and Percy is a true story told in rhyme about three African penguins, written by South African Linda Fellowes (Lulu). It was the year 2000 and the cause of the catastrophe was a tanker called Treasure that shipwrecked off the coast Cape Town resulting in a massive crude oil spill affecting thousands of marine birds.

SANCCOB – The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds – set up a massive bird cleaning operation, inviting the public to don yellow overalls, Wellington boots and rubber gloves to get down and dirty with de-oiling these smothered birds as well as pry open their sharp beaks and force-feed fish into their gullets.

Eventually released back into the ocean in Port Elizabeth, three penguins were named, tagged and followed with the media hype of true celebrities. Peter, Pamela and Percy swam down the coast of SA, around Cape Point and eventually back to the colony at Boulders Beach.

This delightful story is told in an A4 full colour book which encapsulates actual photographs of the oil cleaning operation as well as real penguins on real beaches, overlayed with gorgeous illustrations by South African Theresa Acker (Tee).

Personified through the plight of three sea birds, it serves as both an educational and historical book, preserving the heritage of our unique marine wildlife and reminding us of when Cape Town came together to save SA’s special African penguins.

The books are available in the UK through Central Books www.centralbooks.co.uk