Tux the Penguin Waddles Into Bernards Twp. Library

It's not every day a penguin visits a library, but this Sunday afternoon local children who attended a program at the Bernards Township Library had the treat of seeing Tux the African Black-Footed Penguin close-up in the library's community room.

Keepers Reagan Quarg and Nancy Scarpelli from Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant kicked off Tux's appearance with a presentation on the different types of penguins and where they live — often not in snow and ice.

In the wild, "Penguins have a tough life," Quarg told the children, explaining how many types of penguins are endangered, particularly due to human encroachment and climate change.

Her question about why Tux (formally named Tuxedo) has his distinctive coloring brought the correct answer from one of the young audience members that it provides him with camouflauge.

Many of the children in the audience had completed the program's Snuggle Up With a Good Book winter reading program, and had read about penguins. Sunday's penguin appearance was a celebration to wrap up the program.

Clare Muisener, a kindergarten student at the Oak Street School in Basking Ridge, said she already had seen a penguin at a presentation at the school.

Still, along with being educational, Tux is always dressed for a party, as his keepers pointed out, and he knew how to entertain the crowd.

The program was sponsored by The Friends of the Bernards Township Library.

Please send us your photos or videos of Tux!