Counting Penguins: How a Penguin Colony Stole My Heart and Changed My Life

"What a funny, emotional and beautifully written book that transports you into the world of penguins and gives a rare insight into life in Antarctica. I loved this book so much." – Lorraine Kelly

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At 64° South, on a tiny Antarctic island bustling with penguins, even the smallest lives leave a mark.

Welcome to Port Lockroy – the world’s southernmost post office, a tiny outpost on a football-pitch-sized island off the Antarctic Peninsula, shared by a handful of humans and a thousand curious gentoo penguins.

When travel writer Peter John Watson boards a ship bound for Antarctica, he has no idea how deeply life at the end of the world will change him. Between long shifts counting penguin chicks, welcoming passing cruise ships and sorting mail, he discovers a whimsical world where climate science, storied heritage and captivating wildlife converge in one of the most inhospitable places on earth.

From the secret origins of Base A – Britain’s first continuously occupied base in Antarctica – to the tender rituals of pebble-gifting penguins; from Christmas spent in perpetual daylight to the heartbreak of the natural order and the quiet triumph of new life, this is a story of connection, resilience and wonder.

As the gentoos shed their feathers and Peter prepares to leave before winter closes in, Counting Penguins becomes a tender meditation on isolation and hope – a reminder that even in the coldest corners, small acts of care can ripple far and wide.

Perfect for fans of H is for Hawk and Raising Hare

• Publication date: 22 October 2026
• Page count: 272
• Dimensions: Height 223 mm; Width 144 mm; Thickness 28 mm
• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9780241826522