Tawaki is a Fiordland Crested Penguin making his way down to the ocean. His distinctive yellow feathers across both sides of his head give
him his name, as Tawaki means God of Lightning in Māori.
He loves to swim through the water, his fins which were once wings many thousands of years before, help him ‘fly’ through the water. Tawaki eats small fish, squid and krill, but there are larger fish in the ocean too. Tawaki becomes a target himself, and injured, finally washes up on a beach.
This is where Tawaki meets his first human, who rushes him to a vet. Who rushes him to a special Wildlife Centre, and then a carer at West Coast Wildlife Rescue.
Tawaki becomes Jack – a cheeky, noisy demanding addition to the bird enclosure. Being one of the rarest penguins in the world, many people loved to visit the centre and meet him.
But Jack needs to go home to the sea, and his carer helps him every step of the way – even if he walks in the opposite direction when he gets there. He likes his new home with humans.
Finally, Jack becomes Tawaki again, diving into the ocean.
A companion to the author’s first narrative non-fiction title – A Little Blue.
Penguins Don’t Send Postcards gives young readers an opportunity to learn about the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin with his lightning bolts ‘hairdo’ and journey from hurt to health again.
Named Jack by his foster mum, this penguin’s antics are funny and easy to picture with the full-colour hand drawn illustrations throughout, mapping Jack’s adventure.
It would be easy to keep Jack, as he is a popular character and determined to stay, but the story clearly shows the patience and perseverance of wildlife fosterers to get him back where he belongs in the wild.
The final words of the story brought a smile to my face, as it will any reader.
Author / Illustrator – Jeanette Goode
Age – 7+
Narrative Non-Fiction
(2024, NZ, Fiordland Crested Penguin, Tawaki, Native Birds, Animals, Penguin, Ninety Mile Beach, Massey University Wildbase Hospital, West Coast Wildlife Rescue, Cheeky, Funny, Care, Conservation, Aotearoa New Zealand)
I am the author/illustrator/publisher of Penguins Don’t Send Postcards. It was such a privilege to share Jack’s story with the world. When I came to the West Coast of the South Island to Iive, I had never heard of the tawaki let alone met a real one. It was so much fun getting to know this remarkable creature who fitted in to daily life as one of the extended bird family at the Westport Wildlife Rescue. We were sad.. but happy to see him go back to the ocean.