These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable

The struggle is real for this young emperor penguin

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 7

Inspired by his love for birds and interest in ordinary life, Japanese artist Sheba creates comics about a baby emperor penguin trying to figure out life one day at a time. Sheba’s artworks show the cute animal making an effort to get basic daily tasks done, and while the flightless bird doesn’t always succeed, it’s actually what makes these drawings very relatable to many. Take a look at some of Sheba’s cute cartoon creations below, and be reminded that it’s okay to fail as long as you pick yourself up and try again.

#1 Gymnastics

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 8
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin should really consider shedding off some pounds after failing to lift its own body weight in this gymnastics obstacle. While there’s a springboard to help the chick propel itself over the trapezoid hurdle, the little penguin is just too feeble to get to the other side of the barricade.

#2 Pants

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 9
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Excited to try on his first-ever pair of pants, baby penguin puts both of its legs into the trousers only to find out that its lower limbs are too short for it. While the nestling looks really disappointed, we’re hoping that the chick will soon realize that penguins look more adorable with their cute legs and feet visible.

#3 Tear here

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 10
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin’s patience is put to test when he tries to open a pack of snack with its bare hands. As seen in this comic, the chick attempts to open the packet twice but fails both times. Despite that, the baby penguin doesn’t seem frustrated. Does this mean this has happened to the nestling several times before?

#4 Jumping rope

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 11
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Just because jumping rope looks easy doesn’t mean it really is. And that’s what baby penguin seems to realize in this comic. While regular practice could help baby penguin be better at it, the chick shouldn’t feel any pressure, as lots of kids have grown up without actually learning how to jump rope.

#5 A for effort

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 12
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

As the rain pours down, baby penguin holds its umbrella higher in an attempt to share it with its parent. Though the baby penguin is trying its very best, the chick is just too short to make it happen. Baby penguin shouldn’t feel bad, though, as the parent penguin sees its offspring’s effort, and that’s what matters.

#6 Hula-hooping

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 13
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Like a lot of first-timers, baby penguin didn’t seem to expect hula-hooping to be so hard. Though the chick looks disappointed after failing to spin the hoop around its waist, we’re pretty sure that the nestling will pick it up again and take another shot.

#7 Sit-up

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 14
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Hoping to get in shape, baby penguin decides to do some sit-ups. But after struggling really hard with its first try, the chick lies flat on the ground, thinking whether to give up or give it another try.

#8 Ice skating

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 15
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Can’t wait to glide and spin on the ice, baby penguin quickly straps on his skates and steps on the ice. At some point, however, the chick loses its balance and accidentally discovers that butt sliding is way more fun than ice skating.

#9 Taking a pic

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 16
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin takes a picture of its parent using a camera phone. Given the considerable distance between them, the parent penguin expects the photo to be a mid-shot. So when the picture turns out to be a close-up shot of its beak, the parent penguin realizes that its child needs to take photography lessons right away.

#10 Yoga ball

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 17
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Yoga balls look so much fun to use during exercise, but incorporating them to one’s workout can be really tricky at first. Without any assistance, newbies can fall off the ball, just like what happens to the baby penguin in this comic. Though the chick manages to lie on top of the ball for a few seconds, the nestling ultimately slides off the gym equipment head first.

#11 Hanging grab handles

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 18
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Featuring a different species of baby penguin, this comic sees a young macaroni penguin trying to reach a hanging grab handle while on public transport. The chick strenuously extends its arms upwards, but its limbs are just too short to even touch the tip of the grip. Realizing it’s a lost cause, the baby penguin just holds onto an adult emperor penguin to keep its balance.

#12 Folding clothes

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 19
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Folding clothes is one of the easiest household chores, but baby penguin is obviously terrible at it. Despite that, parent penguin sees the chick’s effort and definitely appreciates its initiative to help.

#13 Portrait

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 20
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

No matter what they actually look like, drawings made by kids are all precious. So baby penguin’s portrait of parent penguin will surely go up on the fridge for everyone to see.

#14 Cowlick

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 21

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 22
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

An oddly placed cowlick can easily become the bane of your existence, but once you start to embrace it — just like baby penguin does in this comic — you’ll soon realize that cowlicks are pretty common and there’s really no need to stress out about it.

#15 Making new friends

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 23
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

While strolling with parent penguin along the beach, baby penguin bumps into a tiny little crab. With the crustacean’s sharp pincers in full display, the nestling quickly hides behind its parent for safety. Though a bit scared, baby penguin wants to make new friends, so it waves its hand at the crab to say hello.

#16 Automatic faucet

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 24
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Have you ever had that experience when you just want to wash your hand but the automatic faucet is acting up? Well, that’s exactly what baby penguin is going through in this comic. First, it takes a long while before the tap detects the chick’s hands. And when it finally dispenses water, it just stops right away, much to the nestling’s confusion.

#17 Eating together

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 25

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 26
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

The dining table has been set for two — one for baby penguin and one for parent penguin. But after noticing that its parent seems sad, baby penguin tries to cheer up the mood by moving to its parent side of the table, so they can eat closely together just like in the old times.

#18 Dreams do come true

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 27

Baby penguin is in for a yummy treat! In this comic, baby penguin is dreaming of a world filled with gigantic donuts. And that dream is about to come true, as parent penguin has prepared two full plates of donuts for baby penguin to munch on the moment it wakes up.

#19 Ripple

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 28
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Captivated by the vastness of the ocean, baby penguin can’t help but stare at the beautiful body of water. The serene moment, however, turns to panic when the chick sees a small wave rushing to the beach. While it’s not clear why the nestling is afraid of it, it’s possible that this is its first trip ever to the sea.

#20 Family time

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 29
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin squeezes itself on the sofa between its mom and dad in this adorable family portrait. Holding cups of their favorite hot drink, the trio seems to have gathered together to watch a movie.

#21 Notice me!

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 30

Seeking attention, baby penguin decides to bother its father who is busy reading the newspaper. But instead of approaching him properly, the chick punctures the newspaper with its round adorable face to make sure that it gets daddy penguin’s full attention.

#22 Sweater

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 31
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin looks warm and cozy in its lovely beige sweater. But after noticing that its feet are cold, the chick hastily takes off its sweater and uses it to cover its hands and feet. Clearly, this comic shows that baby penguin is more about practicality than fashion.

#23 Ripped plastic bag

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 32
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin has bought apples from the market. But on its way home, the chick finds out that the bottom of the plastic bag carrying the fruits has been torn apart. With the apples fallen to the ground, baby penguin finds itself speechless, probably considering using canvas bags on its next grocery run.

#24 Made fun of

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 33

Parent penguin tries to shoot a crumpled paper into a trash can beside baby penguin.  But instead of throwing the paper straight to the bin, the adult penguin naughtily aims for the chick’s head, which ends up tossing the paper into the can.

#25 Momma?

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 34
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin is being followed by three little ducklings in this cute comic. While baby penguin doesn’t seem to understand why the ducklings are followings its trail, it’s likely that the ducklings have mistaken the penguin for their mother.

#26 Ice cream date

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 35
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Baby penguin and its father go out for an ice cream date. Everything is fine until a scoop of baby penguin’s ice cream falls off the cone. Determined to save the sweet treat before it touches the ground, daddy penguin swiftly dives into the ground and successfully catches the dessert with a cone.

#27 Brood pouch

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 36
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Looking for a cozy place to hang out, baby penguin squeezes itself under its father’s brood pouch. The brood pouch is the warm layer of feathered skin just above and between the legs of mature male penguins. They use it to incubate their eggs while their female counterparts go to the sea to feed.

#28 Pirate

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 37
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Unleashing its inner Jack Sparrow, baby penguin looks badass with its pirate hat and cutlass. Parent penguin, meanwhile, is taking a break from all the pirating with a bottle of alcoholic drink.

#29 Alarm clock

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 38

The cute baby penguin goes straight to its parent’s room after getting up early in the morning. But instead of waking its parent, the chick gives the adult penguin extra time to sleep by taking the latter’s alarm clock out of the room.

#30 Too short

These comics about a baby penguin trying to get its life together are totally relatable 39
Credit: Twitter @niwazekisho

Trying hard to reach a knob, baby penguin raises its heels and stretches one of its flippers as high as possible. Sadly, baby penguin’s efforts will never be enough, as the knob is just too elevated for the chick’s height.

Fun facts about baby penguins

Obsessed with baby penguins? Here are some fun facts about them:

What is a baby penguin called?

A baby penguin is called a chick.

What do you call a group of penguin chicks?

In some contexts, the term “crèche” is used to refer to a group of baby penguins that are cared for together by a group of adult penguins in a colony. The term is also used to describe the behavior of some penguin species, where a group of adults will come together to form a kind of communal nursery for the young chicks while their parents go off to hunt for food. This communal care helps to protect the chicks from predators, regulate their body temperature, and ensure that they have access to food and water. The penguin creche is an important part of the social behavior of some penguin species and is a fascinating example of how animals work together to care for their young.

How long do baby penguins stay with their parents?

The length of time that baby penguins stay with their parents varies depending on the species but typically ranges from a few weeks to several months.

How do baby penguins keep warm in cold temperatures?

Baby penguins keep warm in cold temperatures by huddling together in groups, staying close to their parents, and developing a layer of insulating feathers.

How do baby penguins get food?

Baby penguins rely on their parents to bring them food, typically in the form of regurgitated fish or krill.

Do baby penguins eat squid?

Squid is a common food source for several species of penguins, including the Humboldt, Magellanic, and Gentoo penguins. Some species of penguins, such as the Emperor penguin, feed primarily on fish and krill, while others, such as the Adelie penguin, feed mainly on krill and squid.

How do penguin parents recognize their chicks?

Penguin parents recognize their chicks through vocalizations, scent, and visual cues such as feather patterns.

Are baby penguins and baby polar bears friends?

Penguins are found in the southern hemisphere, specifically in Antarctica, while polar bears are found in the Arctic region. These two species of animals would not naturally come into contact with each other in the wild. And even if they did, polar bears are predators and would view penguins as prey rather than potential friends.

Why are King penguin chicks called oakum boys?

A fun fact about King penguin chicks is that they are often referred to as “oakum boys” because of their fluffy brown down feathers, which resemble the oakum material traditionally used to caulk wooden ships.

How many species of penguins are there?

There are 18 species of penguins, all of which are found in the Southern Hemisphere. These are Emperor penguins, King penguins, Royal penguins, Adelie penguins, Macaroni penguins, Gentoo penguins, Galapagos penguins, Magellanic penguins, Humboldt penguins, African penguins, Snares penguins, Fiordland penguins, Little Blue penguins, Yellow Eye penguins, Erect Crested penguins, Northern Rockhopper penguins, Southern Rockhopper penguins, and Chinstrap penguins.

Are there penguins in the Galapagos Islands?

Yes, there are penguins in the Galapagos Islands. The abovementioned Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is a species of penguin that is endemic to the Galapagos Islands, which are located off the coast of Ecuador. It is one of the smaller species of penguin, standing only about 19 inches tall and weighing around 5 pounds. The Galapagos penguin is also one of the world’s rarest penguin species, with a population estimated at only around 2,000 individuals. Unlike most other penguin species, the Galapagos penguin has adapted to life in warm climates, as the islands are located on the equator.

What is the largest species of penguin?

The largest species of penguin is the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri). It is also one of the most well-known penguin species, as it has been popularized by films such as March of the Penguins. Adult Emperor Penguins can grow to be up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and weigh up to 88 pounds (40 kilograms). They are native to Antarctica and are adapted to live in extremely cold and harsh environments, with thick layers of feathers and blubber to keep them warm.

Are penguins only found at the North Pole?

No, penguins are not found at the North Pole. They are only found in the Southern Hemisphere, mainly in Antarctica, but also in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, South America, and several sub-Antarctic islands. The northernmost point at which penguins are known to breed is the Galapagos Islands, which are located near the equator. It is important to note that penguins do not live at the North Pole because there is no landmass at the North Pole, only an ice-covered ocean.

Do penguins build nests?

Yes, penguins do build nests, but on the ground, typically out of stones, pebbles, and other materials found in their environment. Some species, like the Emperor Penguin, may build their nests out of ice, as they breed in Antarctica where there is little vegetation.

Once the nest is built, the female penguin will lay one or two eggs, depending on the species. Both the male and female penguins take turns incubating the eggs, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the species. During this time, the penguins will huddle together to keep warm and protect the eggs from harsh elements. Once the penguin eggs hatch, the parents take turns caring for the chicks, which are also called nestlings.

Are penguins birds?

Yes, penguins are birds. Despite their distinctive appearance and the fact that they are flightless, they share many characteristics with other bird species, including laying eggs, having feathers, and possessing wings, although their wings are adapted for swimming rather than flying. Penguins are often referred to as “sea birds” because they spend the majority of their time in the water.
Source: Sheba