Classic Penguin Books Logo

This Penguin Books penguin makes a perfect mascot for a book company, in my opinion, in that she is simple and clean in design, but also has an inquisitive look on her face (forgive me for anthropomorphizing, but it's just easier to give things like penguins a gender for the sake of repeated reference; if it would make anyone feel better I could give the Penguin Books penguin a name too, but I thought that might be going a little too far). I think that an inquisitive logo is the best possible logo for a book company, more so than a wise old owl or some such nonsense. I'll tell you why. Because the inquisitive are the ones who do the most reading.
The smart, they do not need to read Penguin Books as much as the inquisitive do, because they already know (except for the smart-mouths and the smarty-pants, because they just think they know, and believe me they are way more annoying than the truly smart). The wise, they're probably (hopefully, anyway) the ones writing the Penguin books. The inquisitive, they are probably the biggest demographic for classic literature and great works of nonfiction (which are some of Penguin Books biggest areas of focus).
Interestingly and not surprisingly enough, it is often the young that are the most inquisitive. Not high school and college kids, they're the smart-mouths. No, often it's just when they are learning or have just learned to read, or perhaps after they get their first library card, just when this whole new world of Penguin books has been opened up to them that kids are most inquisitive (I speak from what I see not from scientific fact; don't sue me if I'm wrong, just smear me all over the web and call it good). I remember learning to read, and I remember reading voraciously ever since. That burning lust for knowledge, for words, for Penguin books in my hands with the sound of the paper and the smell of the binding and the look of the dark words on the light paper, it brings ecstasy.
So I think this penguin is the perfect Penguin Books penguin. She is young and lighthearted enough, inquisitive enough, cute enough, but still clean and mature enough not to be mistaken for a baby toy (a common enough mistake, I'm sure, with book logos). She is standing there, her head turned in incredulity, as if trying to decide whether she wants to stand back and just listen or lean forward and grab the Penguin books out of your hands and devour them herself. She looks as if she can't quite believe what she's hearing, like it's too good to be true. As if a whole new world of words has been opened up to her and she can't quite believe it. I told you she's perfect.

Creepy Yet Charming Penguin Books

I couldn't resist. Even though I said I was trying to get away from my I heart Penguin Books because I heart anything penguin image, this was too awesome. Seriously, have you looked at it? It's clever, cute, but simple. That's my kind of graphic art (as far as classical art I go more for impressionism, but that's another story). Apparently it was done for Penguin Books anniversary or something. Kind of impressive, isn't it. It's the kind of thing that makes me wish that I could draw. Not that I want to be the next Michaelangelo or anything, I just want to be able to draw Penguin Books logos and other nonsense cartooned characters.
So I haven't been reading Penguin Books for the seventy-five years that they've been around (obviously), but I have been reading them for a while now, and I have to say Penguin Books are pretty impressive. I never realized before just how much they contributed to making publishing a more cohesive business. They standardized their typeface (for the most part) as well as their logo and cover design (which still holds mostly true) and the name Penguin Books became one that was synonymous with paperback (pretty impressive, huh?). In fact, this company kind of sprang up overnight, if I read my facts correctly. I guess they really filled a need.
I have to admit I've never read Frankenstein or Dracula. Not even the Penguin Books versions. Frankenstein intimidated me, and I heard Dracula was boring (not to mention the fact that I may be one of the only girls of my generation not into vampires. At all.). I haven't even read The Phantom of the Opera, yet, for crying out loud, and I heard it was amazing (from someone who happens to be a very picky reader. Mostly. Except for the girly fiction books, which is a not nice thing to say. Okay, never mind.).
But come on, this is a pretty awesome representation of Penguin Books. It would be a great way to hook younger generation readers. They're like little pieces of flair only for book covers. It would be an awesome draw for Penguin Books. They could do one for all the major works of classic fiction. They could do a musketeer one, and an Austen one, and maybe a penguin dressed up as a raven for Poe (that's a fowl though, lol). Someone should tell them about this. It could take Penguin Books a whole new direction. An awesome direction.

Covers of Penguin Books

I think this is a cool picture of Penguin books. I wouldn't mind having a section of my personal library that looked like this, all Penguin Books orange (yes, it's a new Crayola crayon color). Especially if there were lots of names like Austen, Dumas, Bronte, Poe, Dickinson, and others like them on that shelf. I could call it the Penguin Books shelf. And since some of my friends refer to me as the penguin, it would be the penguin's Penguin Books shelf. Ha ha ha, yes I'm hilarious. Laugh.
While in general I'm not the hugest fan of orange, I find this picture very aesthetically appealing. Perhaps it is the straight lines, or the variegated color, or just the fact that it is a bunch of books (another picture that I absolutely loved that I saw one time was a picture of a stack of books piled up to the ceiling. Literally. It. Was. Awesome.). Maybe it's because somehow I have an affinity to Penguin books because of my nickname (which I didn't pick and, quite frankly, I've regretted since. I don't really like penguins that much, mostly I just feel obliged to). Whatever it is, I think this would make a cool Penguin Books poster (assuming Penguin Books does posters, which might be kind of weird. I wonder how many book nerds like me would even think about buying such a thing).
I wish I could read the names of all the titles on this cover (which I probably could if I went out and got a copy of the book, but I'm too broke and too forgetful to do such a thing). I'm that geek who's curious about a question like that. Actually this looks like a book I would get, just to look at all the pretty pictures of Penguin books. I wouldn't actually read most of it, because I would get bored, so I would just browse through the pictures detailing the history of Penguin Books.
In summation, Penguin Books are awesome, they were and are a major part of publishing house history, and if you haven't read Penguin books before you're probably lying or confused (or illiterate, in which case how are you reading this article). So go out and read one, appreciate the awesomeness, and thank me. Thank me profusely.
You're welcome and enjoy the picture (seriously, just stare at it for a while).

Club Penguin Unlock Items Codes - TREASURE BOOK!!!!

I have been told by a couple people that I should try playing club penguin sometime, and that there are club penguin books, treasure books. Whatever that means. Apparently this video is supposed to explain the club penguin books to those of us newbies (or not yet inducted and not sure if we want to be inductees). I'm not sure if people think I would like this game because of the game itself, or because I like penguins (or because of the penguin books, since I like penguins and books, lol).

And I will admit, I have gotten rather too much into online games before. Some of them may have been similar to club penguin, though I wouldn't know for sure because I've never played club penguin, not even for the club penguin books (I feel a strange temptation to throw in more lols, but I'll try to resist the urge). I've played (though for varying lengths of time and with varying levels of enjoyment) Runescape, Puzzle Pirates, Fiesta, Neopets, Adventure Quest, Dragon Quest, and others whose names I cannot even remember (in addition to online one-shot games like Bing and MSN games and other silly time-wasters).

So I'm trying to decide if it's even worth giving it a shot. However I'm the kind of person that would feel sorry for club penguin and its club penguin books if I didn't give it a somewhat lengthy shot, and at that point I might just keep playing for a while out of habit, which would be just silly (unless of course I really liked it, which could be even weirder, as I'm an adult now, or trying to be). So, penguin books club, you might have to wait. For forever. I'll call (which is obviously code for this date sucked and I don't want to call you and/or you give such a bad first impression I don't even want to give you a first chance, let alone a second).

I'd rather read real Penguin books than club penguin books. I'm just that girl (as I'm fond of saying, often). I'd rather read Penguin books Austen than watch a chick flick. I'd rather read Penguin books Poe than watch a horror movie. I'd rather read Penguin books collected works of Emily Dickinson than play on Bing all day (or MSN or whatever). I'd rather read almost anything published by Penguin Books than most of the typical American time fillers. Sorry club penguin. Sorry club penguin books. Good luck with that treasure thing.

paidContent:UK: Penguin's Upcoming iPad books

The ipad has been around for what seems like a while now, but I was never really interested, even though as both an avid reader and an environmentalist I suppose I really ought to consider it as it might support my book reading habit in a more eco-friendly manner. But now that Penguin books is supporting the ipad, and publishing some of their books on it, I am starting to consider it. Much of the literature that I read is classic literature, just the kind of thing that is most visibly supported by Penguin Books. I know them best for two things; publishing old classics and publishing new bestsellers. Granted, not everything that Penguin Books publishes rises to the top of the New York times bestsellers list, but it seems like an awful lot does.

The only downside to me to using an ipad is that it is so technological, and I am one of the old fashioned types that loves the feel and the smell and the aesthetic visual of a book in my hands. An ipad or Nook or Kindle or anything else just wouldn't be the same. Granted, in the long run it might be better for the earth, but I like Penguin Books actual books, paper and binding and jacket and all (although, to be honest, I certainly don't mind a Penguin books paperback either).

Of course, for a while now I have defended my right to read actual books by purchasing them at thrift stores, used book stores, and other purveyors of used goods. And so far it's worked to keep my habit guilt-free in my mind. Not to mention keeping my pocketbook guilt-free (no small feat for a woman of my means and budget). But I'm starting to wonder if perhaps some time in the future I ought to at least experiment with enjoying Penguin books on a lit screen instead of a worn yellowed page. Who knows if and when that future will ever exist, but I am holding it out as a possibility.

In the meantime I have several other venues; thrift stores, friends, libraries, used book stores, and paperbackswap (it's fabulous, check it out). And if you are like me, struggling to be a read-a-holic and an earth-o-holic, while still enjoying the fabulous works that Penguin Books have to offer, maybe one of these solutions is for you. Or maybe I just like to hear myself talk (or see myself write?).

The Future of Publishing - created by DK (UK)

This is one of the coolest youtube videos that I've seen in a while, published by Penguin Books and created by DK. Wow. I have to say, I absolutely love books, love to read, and Penguin Books publish some truly great ones. Not only does Penguin Books republish some good old classics like Jane Austen, Bronte, Dickens, Dumas, Carroll, and many others, but they are still publishing books like Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love and Gilbert's sequel, Committed. Penguin Books is probably one of the greatest publishing groups right now, though I don't know tons about publishing houses.

I grew up reading penguin books classics, and DK educational books, so I can really appreciate what they have done and are doing for America, and especially to help the youth of America learn to appreciate the value of learning and reading. I know I learned that, and that is probably one of the most important things I learned in school (of course, it helped that I was home schooled and had a lot more time for reading than many of my public schooled counterparts; I got to learn at my pace, which was much faster, and so I got to read a lot too).

Even still, I love to read Penguin Books. I read the Mitford series, by Jan Karon, I love Elizabeth Gilbert (as previously stated) and I passionately love to read classic literature, something that I fear is dying in America. Sometimes I wish I hand enough money to single-handedly support the continuing publication of classics, but that is kind of a silly thing to imagine even. Of course, imagination is one thing that well-read and well-educated children tend to have plenty of. I'm not referring to snobs that go to private schools. I'm thinking more of kids who grow up voraciously reading every one of the penguin books they can get out from the library. I'm talking about kids who would rather go to the library than the mall. I'm talking about people who plan more on how to decorate their library than what they will wear to prom (okay, not all of these apply, but you get my drift).

I hope that companies like Penguin Books continue for many generations to come, continuing to share with us the great writers of the past and the present. Literature, art, music, these are important both to individual and societal advancement. I hope that we can raise a generation to appreciate this. I hope that Penguin books can help us do that.