Penguin's Family - Smithsonian

Penguin's Family - Smithsonian

Smithsonian Oceanic Collection

12 ratings
6 reviews

Archived App (Last seen on 6 Apr 2026)

This is an archived listing of the app previously available on the App Store.

Although the app is no longer distributed by Apple, you can still view its description, screenshots, version history, ratings, and metadata for reference.

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • July 19, 2011
  • July 15, 2021

Features

Penguin's Family - Smithsonian screenshot #1 for iPhone
Penguin's Family - Smithsonian screenshot #2 for iPhone
Penguin's Family - Smithsonian screenshot #3 for iPhone
Penguin's Family - Smithsonian screenshot #4 for iPhone
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About

Embark on an adventure with a Humboldt Penguin family. This interactive storybook encourages literacy, teaches new vocabulary, and allows for personalized narration. Designed for young children, it offers a safe and engaging learning experience.

Interactive story with highlighted narration
Learn new vocabulary with tappable words
Record and share your own narration
Parental controls for uninterrupted experience
Scene selection with easy navigation
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What's New in Penguin's Family

2.8

July 15, 2021

- updated to latest codebase for better compatibility - bug fixes

User reviews

Penguin's Family

Illustrations are realistic and detailed.
The read to me selection is fluent and inviting for the listener.
I would love to have more non fiction topics to share with my class.

Another great book by the smithsonian!

Keep them coming. My family has all four so far!

Penguin Palooza

Our 2nd grade students at Finch Elementary love this book. They read this book to find out more about Humboldt penguins and learned about how they might help this endangered penguin.

Gorgeous Illustrations

What We Liked:

Our family cuddled up on the couch and enjoyed Penguin’s Family together in Read It Myself mode while I did the reading to our crew of little girls. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous on the backlit screen, and my girls, ranging from 3 – 8, were all glued to the story.

We tested out the Read To Me option together as well, and we found the male narrators voice to be warm, clear, and engaging. This title is a fairly simple read, making it a good choice as a science reader for around the late grade 2/early grade 3 reading level. The vocabulary is straight forward and the story helps young children learn facts about penguin life, reproduction, habitat, food, etc. all within the context of a living story.

One of our favorite (and most effective) ways of learning in our homeschool is by reading stories together. They really help to cement ideas in my children’s minds – if you want to learn about South American penguins, this book is a great choice for younger children, just the right amount of detail.

What We Didn’t Like:

This title is an earlier one from Oceanhouse Media, and it doesn’t offer quite the full interactivity that their full titles do. In the newer titles, each individual word can be tapped on to have it read, but that feature isn’t available in this title (yet). I hope it will be added in the future – it’s an awesome one for emerging readers. Also, there is some delicate background music that is included in both the Read To Me and Auto Play mode but isn’t included in Read it to Myself.
Overall:

This is another excellent digital book from Oceanhouse Media – it meets the requirements for a living book for science, engaging children deeply with the day-to-day life of a young penguin.

Disclosure: I received a promo code of this app to review.
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Excellent!!!

Children's books by Oceanhouse are fantastic! This is no exception.

Developer apps

FAQ

What is Penguin's Family about?

Penguin's Family is an interactive storybook that follows a Humboldt Penguin family teaching their baby how to survive. It focuses on literacy, vocabulary, and personalized narration for children aged 3-8.

How does Penguin's Family encourage literacy?

The story features highlighted narration that syncs with the text, helping young readers follow along. It also includes tappable words and pictures to introduce new vocabulary.

Can I record my own voice in Penguin's Family?

Yes, you can record your own narration to personalize the story and share it with others. This feature allows for a more engaging and custom reading experience.

Is Penguin's Family safe for young children?

Yes, the app is designed for children ages 3-8 and includes parental controls to keep kids focused on the story. It has been reviewed by experts at the Smithsonian Institution.

What devices does Penguin's Family support?

Penguin's Family is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to work across these Apple mobile devices.

How often is Penguin's Family updated?

The latest version, 2.8, was released on July 15, 2021. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, it has received updates since its initial release in 2011.

What is the price of Penguin's Family?

Penguin's Family costs $2.99. This is a one-time purchase for the full application.

Does Penguin's Family have ads?

No, Penguin's Family does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application designed to provide an uninterrupted experience.