Big Brother Penguin’s Birthday
Little Penguin Harry
It’s Little Penguin Harry’s first birthday! But his parents had to leave for work, swimming to the next island to catch fish.
“We’re sorry, Harry. But we’ll bring back a huge pile of souvenirs!” “Sparkly anchovies!” “Plump squid and octopus, too!” Harry’s younger siblings cheered with delight at their parents’ smiling faces and the promise of delicious treats.
“Harry, big brother. Please look after your brothers and sisters!”
His father gave a quiet, meaningful nod to Harry, the most responsible of the children.
Missing Parents and a Mysterious Rumor
However, the sun set, and the next day dawned, but Harry’s parents did not return. The neighbor penguins from the next colony all came flocking back… but not Harry’s parents.
“That’s strange,” “Could something have happened?”
Even Jack, the eldest penguin and usually one to hide quietly in his rock cave, poked his head out, his face etched with worry.
Then, one day, a large penguin arrived, flapping his big flippers wildly. He was much taller than Harry! He looked around nervously and, in a whisper unsuited to his size, he said, “M-maybe… it’s because of the Barracuda…”
Barracuda? What’s that?
The younger penguins like Harry had never heard the name before. But Grandpa Jack, upon hearing the word, was startled, his face turning completely pale.
What is a Barracuda?!
“Is a Barracuda really that terrifying?” To find his parents, Harry started investigating the Barracuda. When it came to curiosity and courage, no one could beat Harry! The penguins who had encountered a Barracuda and escaped all shivered as they spoke: “They are absolutely vicious!
They have no weakness, not a single one. They are the demons of the sea, faster than a shark!” “If you meet them, all you can do is run. But they hunt in teams, darting like living torpedoes! Escaping them is impossible, even for a god!” Unkind words like “gobbled up in one bite…” made tears of frustration stream down Harry’s face. But as the tears stopped, a new courage bubbled up in Harry’s heart! “I will definitely find my parents and find a solution to this problem!”
Harry Grows Up
Months passed. To protect his younger siblings, Harry ate well, swam hard, and kept moving every single day. He grew taller than everyone else and became a fine big brother penguin, over 50 centimeters tall! His brothers and sisters relied on Harry like he was their father, and they all lived happily.
Crisis in the Sea!
One day, however, the sky turned dark and gloomy, and the seabirds began screeching wildly. When Harry asked Grandpa Jack, he swallowed hard and said, “This is a bad omen. Something terrible might happen in the sea…” And soon after, urgent news arrived! “Disaster! A school of Barracuda is heading this way on the cold currents!” “The Barracuda! The living torpedoes are this close!”
Harry’s “Four Strategies”
What should they do!
How could they stand up to those living torpedoes—who couldn’t be outrun and had no weakness?! While everyone was panicking, Harry calmly thought and had an inspiration! “That’s right! Everyone should just do what they are best at!” Harry announced his four special strategies to protect everyone!
📌“Owl’s Eye” Strategy! The penguins with the best eyesight should stand at the very front as lookouts! Find out where the Barracuda are coming from faster than anyone else and let us know.
📌“Dolphin’s Swim” Strategy! The best swimmers should swim lively circles at the very back! This will distract and confuse the Barracuda!
📌“Bobbing Buoy” Strategy! The average swimmers and seers should float motionlessly on the surface! Let the Barracuda pass underneath them.
📌“Nap Time” Strategy!
The penguins for whom even that is a bit difficult should come ashore and take a nap in the sun! This plan was a free strategy where everyone could choose what they liked best!
Working Together!
Hearing Harry’s “Four Strategies,” everyone was overjoyed! “I can do that!” “This actually sounds fun!” The courageous penguins became lookouts. The energetic ones became the distractions. The easy-going ones became the bobbing buoys!
Thanks to everyone following Harry’s plan, the school of Barracuda was thrown into total confusion!
The Little Penguins were able to save their lives! Afterward, Little Penguin Harry, valuing everyone’s input, became the leader of the penguins and continued to save their lives and protect their happiness for a long, long time.
The End!
Why did Harry want to find his parents?
🟢 Why Harry Searched for His Parents
Harry’s strong decision to search for his parents and find a way to fight the Barracuda stemmed from a lack of true self-confidence at the beginning.
When his father asked him to “look after your brothers and sisters,” Harry thought it was only a temporary duty.
In truth, the anxiety in his heart was: “Can I, all by myself, truly protect my brothers and sisters to the very end?”
A Desire to Erase Anxiety: That anxiety would vanish if his reliable parents returned. Their smiles and presence were the greatest source of comfort for Harry.
The Test of Being “Big Brother”: In their parents’ absence, Harry was forced to become the leader who protected everyone.
However, by overcoming this ordeal, Harry found true strength and confidence, eventually achieving self-reliance, realizing “I am okay even without my parents.”
Harry’s desire to find his parents was actually a deep wish for growth—to change his own lack of self-reliance
Copyright © 2025 painted and written by Michiko Yamada. All Rights