Flipper and Finnegan: The True Story of How Jumpers Saved Little Penguins by Sophie Cunningham, Anil Tortop

Title: Flipper and Finnegan: The True Story of How Jumpers Saved Little Penguins

Author: Sophie Cunningham, Anil Tortop

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin/Albert Street Books

Published: 16^th August 2022

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 24

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: From the bestselling creators of Tippy & Jellybean – The True Story of the Brave Koala who Saved Her Baby From a Bushfire, this affirming and delightful tale is based on a true story of animal rescue and community cooperation.

Flipper and Finnegan live on a beautiful island.
Every morning they hunt for fish in the clear blue ocean waters.
Every evening they waddle up the beach together with all their friends – it’s a penguin parade.

But one day, when Flipper comes up for air she gets covered in something that is black and smelly and sticky – and Finnegan is nowhere to be seen…

This is the miraculous true story of how a viral knitting campaign helped save the lives of Phillip Island’s Little Penguins.

~*~

Flipper and Finnegan live on Phillip Island, and spend their days swimming and catching fish, and waddle on the beach during the penguin parade. Until an oil spill starts to make them sick. So the humans come to help them, and everyone starts to knit little jumpers for the penguins to wear so they don’t swallow the oil. What follows is the true story of the knitting campaign to help the Little Penguins of Phillip Island, and how it united many.

This delightful picture book is based on a true story, retold by Sophie Cunningham, and brings the story of Flipper and Finnegan to life, as two icons of the plight of the Little Penguins. It gently tells the story of what the Little Penguins went through, and even though it is horrible, I think this story has been crafted effectively, with beautiful words that took me on a heartbreaking and uplifting journey with Flipper and Finnegan, and can teach children and readers of all ages about the perils of oil spills and how they affect animals like Little Penguins. It promotes a sense of community and can start discussions about the environment, endangered animals, and how to help them.

I loved this book and fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Anil Tortop’s wonderful illustrations are evocative and powerful, filled with life, colour, and hope. The illustrations bring Sophie’s words to life, and I was swept into the world of Flipper and Finnegan, finding myself wanting to immerse myself in it and also wanting to keep coming back to it – the mark of a truly powerful picture book that I think will have a wide appeal across a broad readership and many age groups, as it will teach us something about helping animals, hope, and coming together as a community – and the various ways we can do this. It will be wonderful in many areas – as a fun read, in various educational settings, and to help us remember the beauty in the simple things like knitting and creating something with your hands.

I also loved the end papers – the gorgeous turquoise background is covered with lots of colourful and patterned penguin jumpers, giving us a hint and clue as to what awaits us within the story to come. Sophie and Anil have created a wonderful piece of art that is sure to be cherished and shared widely, and I know that it is one that I wanted to return to immediately. I loved it, and I think it will become a beloved classic about a moment in time that united people in a unique way. I hope that Sophie and Anil get to team up again, as they have created something wonderful together.