Nights of the Pufflings facts for kids
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| Author | Bruce McMillan |
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| Illustrator | Bruce McMillan |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
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Publication date
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1995 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0395708101 |
Nights of the Pufflings is a famous children's book by Bruce McMillan. It was published in 1995. This book is special because it uses real photos taken by the author. The story takes place on Heimaey island in Iceland. It's about a unique tradition where children help young puffins.
Young puffins are called "pufflings". This word was actually made up by Bruce McMillan! Even though it's widely used now, you won't find it in most dictionaries yet.
Nights of the Pufflings has been translated into other languages. You can find it in Icelandic as Pysjunaetur and in German as Nächte der kleinen Papageitaucher.
In 2001, a contest was held on Vestmannaeyjar island. The goal was to give an official name to the yearly puffling rescue. Children on the island have been helping these birds for many generations. The chosen name was Pysjueftirlitið með Brúsa Bjargfasta. This means "The Puffling Patrol with Bruce the Rescuer". It was a special way to honor Bruce McMillan.
What is Nights of the Pufflings About?
Nights of the Pufflings is set on the Icelandic island of Heimaey. The book tells about a local tradition where children rescue young birds. These birds are called pufflings.
Every August, millions of pufflings leave their burrows in the cliffs. They take their first flight at night. Some of them get confused by street lights. They might get stuck in the village streets. Here, they can be in danger from local cats and dogs.
The children get ready to patrol the streets at night. They gather the confused pufflings in cardboard boxes. Later, during the daytime, they set the birds free at the beach. The pufflings will then spend a year or two at sea. After that, they will return to Heimaey to mate.
Main Characters
- Halla: She is the main character. Halla is a school girl and a puffling rescuer.
- Arnar Ingi: He is Halla's friend.
Awards and Recognition
Nights of the Pufflings has won many awards. It is one of Bruce McMillan's most honored books. Here are some of the awards it received:
- American Library Association Notable Book, 1996
- A Children's Book of Distinction - Hungry Mind Review, 1996
- Parents' Choice Picture Book, 1995
- Parenting magazine Certificate of Excellence, 1995
- A Lupine Honor Book, Maine Librarians Association, 1996
- A Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal, 1995
- A Best Kids' Book of the Year, Crayola Kids magazine, 1995
- A Blue Ribbon Book, The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books, 1995
- Star Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 1995
- Star Review, School Library Journal, 1995
- Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children - National Science Teachers Association / Children's Book Council
This book was also the first photo-illustrated book to be featured on the cover of The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books in 1995. It was also featured on the cover of The Horn Book Guide.
