What is the author's style in Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater?

Mr. Popper's Penguins is told with third-person perspective. While the narrator often is allied with Mr. Popper, sharing the man's thoughts and motivations, the narrator is capable of seeing all and knowing all. However, there are certain points in the plot that are restricted to the Popper family's point of view in order to increase dramatic tension and interest. For example, Admiral Drake reports that he is sending a special surprise to the Popper residence, but the reader is not told what that surprise is. The reader is instead left to discover the surprise (a penguin) along with Mr. Popper as he opens the package.

As is typical of children's stories involving strange, magical, or surreal elements—in this case, a family of penguins living with a typical family in their home—the narrator speaks with authority, in a calm, nothing-out-of-the-ordinary manner, in contrast to the ridiculous situation at the heart of the story. This contrast is amusing and interesting in and of itself, but it also heightens the sense of realism, and allows the reader to willingly suspend his or her disbelief in order to fully immerse him or herself in the story. In addition, the authoritative narrator is prevalent in children's stories to provide a calming anchor to the adventure, assuring the young reader that everything will work out well in the end.