The Penguin Lessons

A story of a man and his penguin seems like an unusual tale to have come from the retired Head of Chemistry at Truro School. We were thrilled to welcome this staffroom legend to the library to meet the WAA Creative Club and discuss his remarkable story, along with the upcoming release of the film starring Steve Coogan.

Mr Thompson talked about his book ‘The Penguin Lessons’ a remarkable true story of his life as a young man when he travelled to Argentina for adventure and to start a job in an English boarding school. There, he inadvertently encountered a penguin, which he rescued from an oil slick and reluctantly adopted. This wonderful biographical story – part social history, part travel, and part zoology – is set in Argentina in the 1970s during the Peronist regime. It tells a tale of friendship, hope, and how to very definitely not smuggle a penguin across the border.

The WAA Creative Club, who are learning about writing books and screenplays, asked many questions about style, pace, and how he began writing his story. Mr. Thompson shared some book reviews with the group, both good and bad, and discussed what makes a well-written review. He explained how to evidence your reasoning and prove that you truly understand the essence of a book.

He read some heartwarming passages from the book and encouraged these young writers to write with their hearts to truly convince a reader and draw them into their narrative.

A big thank you to all the WAA pupils who engaged with this afternoon and came up with some great questions. Many have gone away inspired to read this wonderful story and with some newfound knowledge about penguins.

Mr. Thompson’s book, The Penguin Lessons (under his pseudonym, Tom Michell), is available to borrow from the school library. The film will be released on April 18, 2025. We simply can’t wait!