The detailed and lengthy author’s note in the back of The Old Man and the Penguin, A True Story of True Friendship, reveals that this is a “true and remarkable story”.  Julie Abery’s picture book tells the story of João (pronounce Je-WOW, as noted in the back of the book) and his discovery of a penguin barely clinging to life. Through an unlikely rescue, friendship forms between the retired man and his new penguin pet. Although João repeatedly attempts to return the penguin to his natural environment, the penguin always returns to João. Abery’s choice to to write this story in rhyming verse, “Fishy kisses, beak to nose. Day by day their friendship grows” and “Pecks and strokes for happy friends, a precious bond that never ends” seems unnecessary because it brings a much more primary tone to the story that would potentially be more engaging to upper elementary readers. Pierre Pratt’s full layout illustrations manage to capture the essence of the story making the book a page turner for non or beginning readers. Overall and entertaining story about both unexpected friendship and animal rescue.