The little Penguin you can see on every Penguin Reader is seventy years old this year. So, let's all say Happy Birthday Penguin!
Seventy years ago, a man called Allen Lane went to visit Agatha Christie, the author of many famous detective stories. Allen Lane worked for Bodley Head, a publishing company, and he wanted to talk to Agatha Christie about a new book she was writing.
Agatha Christie lived in Exeter in Devon in the south west of England, 250 kilometres from London. When Allen Lane was coming home, after talking to Agatha Christie, he wanted something to read during the long train journey from Exeter back to London. At Exeter station, he saw some popular magazines and a few old books. He didn't see any books which were cheap and interesting.
While he was travelling back to London, Allen Lane decided to publish a series of good modern books in soft paper covers. He decided that the price of the books would be sixpence each (2½ pence in today's money).
When he got back to London he talked to his secretary, Joan Coles, and told her about his idea. He said he wanted a name for the series - a name which is 'dignified but flippant' - perhaps, he said, the name of an animal or bird. Joan Coles suggested Penguin. She said a Penguin is very dignified with its black and white feathers, but when it moves it is very funny. Edward Young, a designer in the office, went to London Zoo to draw some pictures of penguins. And so the first Penguin books were born. There were detective stories, books about politics, adventure stories and novels.
Today, seventy years later, people In Britain still love their Penguins. A wide variety of good, pocket sized books for a very cheap prices.
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