"Written from the heart and exquisitely illustrated with striking photographs, Penguin the Magpie is an emotional journey from the depth of adversity to the height of accomplishment. Traversing this rugged ground reveals the world of a special bird and her connection to a family unwilling to fail. Laid bare are the mutual and life-changing bonds that form between birds and people."
"Exquisite beyond words."
"This beautiful, profound, life-changing book carries the message that wild birds have a depth of emotion, intelligence, individuality, and personality with which they can communicate empathetically and profoundly with people. I find myself returning to this healing story again and again to marvel at and be inspired by the gorgeous souls of Penguin the Magpie and her human family."
Animals can be such loyal friends! Caring and bonding are ancient animal traits indeed, which we share with other species. This is a remarkable story of human suffering and a rescued bird who returns the love she received.
From the instant Penguin tumbles from her nest down to the pavement, this book embodies the discovery of how another being can bring new depth and meaning to our lives, even in the darkest times.Through nuanced photographs and unassuming prose, it reveals an insight both familiar and fantastical—hope and healing are within our grasp when we look beyond ourselves.
"PENGUIN THE MAGPIE is a triumph that will make your heart soar."
"A book that will make everyone’s heart soar."
"In this sweet story of love and resilience, a wild bird becomes the one cure for a broken human heart."
"A gorgeous book."
Here’s to the angels that come in the form of animals and the human animals that recognize them as such. Sam Bloom and her family remind us that when we take care of others we heal ourselves. A truly beautiful story. There are odd little birds out there for all of us—we just have to take the time to see them.
A breath-taking book. Beautiful in content, spectacular in photos. The connections that Sam and her family make through love reveal a triumph of the human and of the bird spirit. A spectacular, uplifting and exquisitely beautiful book.
"Penguin the Magpie is a truly unique and deeply moving book and that shares an important message of love, resilience and hope. This beautifully crafted work combats the stigma that there is no life after sustaining a spinal cord injury and proves that we can find inspiration, empowerment and joy in the most unlikely places and when we least expect it. With stunning photographs, an extraordinary true story and a searingly honest portrayal of life after paralysis, this book addresses that while life may not be perfect, we can all find happiness, purpose and love even during the most challenging times. As Dana Reeve once said, “find the joy inside the hardship," the Bloom family takes readers on a journey of how they celebrated the small, yet important wins and ultimately reclaimed their future thanks to an unlikely feathered hero. On behalf of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation we are proud to be associated with this wonderful book and we are grateful to the authors, Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive, and the publisher, Atria Books, for donating a percentage of every book sold to support our work to find cures for spinal cord injury."
"A unique and remarkable insight into a family dealing with tragedy and finding their way through it with love, courage, and hope."
"A wonderful story of the interconnections that are possible between wild animals and people and the vital role that nature plays in human life and healing."
"Be brave. Be open-minded. Be kind. Be forgiving. Be generous. Be optimistic. Be grateful for the many unexpected lessons you will learn. Find the joy inside the hardship. It’s there. I assure you. And, too, be open to inspiration from unlikely sources."
Penguin is a magpie chick that comes into the life of a struggling Australian family after an accident leaves the wife/mother paralyzed and depressed. Australian narrators Richard Roxburgh and Edwina Wren set the stage for the husband and wife of the family to varying effect. Roxburgh maintains a very slow pace, while Wren's pace is more natural in describing how taking in Penguin and nursing her to health and adulthood helped all members of the family come to terms with their new reality and find joy once again. The audiobook effectively communicates the family's love and struggles, as well as their affection for Penguin, but would certainly be enhanced by the inclusion of photos depicting the family members and the bird. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Penguin is a magpie chick that comes into the life of a struggling Australian family after an accident leaves the wife/mother paralyzed and depressed. Australian narrators Richard Roxburgh and Edwina Wren set the stage for the husband and wife of the family to varying effect. Roxburgh maintains a very slow pace, while Wren's pace is more natural in describing how taking in Penguin and nursing her to health and adulthood helped all members of the family come to terms with their new reality and find joy once again. The audiobook effectively communicates the family's love and struggles, as well as their affection for Penguin, but would certainly be enhanced by the inclusion of photos depicting the family members and the bird. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
