Mr. Popper's Penguins has received generally positive reviews. Common Sense Media wrote: "Vivid imagery, clever word plays, and funny characters that border on the absurd have made this book a popular choice for kids in classrooms and at home."[5] Kirkus Reviews, on the other hand, stated in 1938: "This is rather a silly story, and I don't believe children will think it particularly funny."[6]
Publishers Weekly said of a pop-up version: "Aside from the alliterative appeal of a pop-up Mr. Popper, it's hard to see how the children's classic benefits from this particular format", and "Stick with the real thing."[7]
