Where are the penguins?

“Where are the penguins, mummy?”

The first question this morning when we charge into the living room in our usual Superhero-type, enthusiastic style.

Not aware of any favourite books featuring penguins, I say, “I’m not sure, my love. What penguins are they?” and wander sleepily into the kitchen to make the toast.

Behind me I hear some quiet counting… “One penguin, two penguin, three penguin, FOUR PENGUIN!”

I pop my head around into the living room to see him kneeling in front of a bookcase, a picture of intense concentration, his little finger hovering over the spines of some Penguin classic books, sitting randomly on the shelves.

My heart quivers and I want to run over and squeeze that adorable little creature. But I wait and watch.

“THERE’S the penguins, mummy!” And counts them again. A pause to deliberate one particular penguin. “What’s that one?”

I come over and kneel beside him. He points to a very faded penguin whose wings stretch to almost the edge of the spine, so thin is the book. I pull it off the shelf.

“It’s a book called Of Mice and Men.”