A Wonderleaf question
How do penguins stay warm in freezing water?
a real page from the book
Penguins stay warm in freezing water because their bodies are built to save heat. A deep fat layer, tightly packed waterproof feathers, and trapped air close to the skin make strong insulation between the bird and the icy sea.
They also manage heat through their blood. Vessels in cold feet and flippers can narrow, and nearby warm and cool blood can trade heat before it is lost. On land, some penguins crowd together, but in the water each bird carries its warmth with it.
Wonder words
- blubber
- insulation
- vessels
- krill
Try it out
Wrap one hand in a dry towel and leave one bare for a minute, then compare how warm they feel.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
One more wonder: Why is space so dark?
And the next question?
Ask anything — Wonderleaf writes and illustrates a picture book for it. That's the whole idea.
Ask your own questionThe next wonder, by email
A new question goes up every Sunday evening. We email it to you Monday morning, free to read that week.
One wonder a week, nothing else, ever. Unsubscribe in one click.