One brave puppy. One wobbly tower. One very big heart.
A funny, heartwarming picture book about a puppy discovering what it really means to be a hero.
About the Book
Meet Penny, the superhero next door!
Every morning, Penny watches her family drive away, then takes her place on the front porch. To the world, she looks like a perfectly ordinary yellow Labrador. But Penny knows the truth. She is Super Penny Puppy, a hero in training, nose lifted to the breeze and ready for whatever the neighborhood might need.
When a single blue feather drifts to her paws, Penny follows its trail to a family of bluebirds nesting high in the old maple tree. One curious baby bird leans just a little too far, and suddenly four tiny bluebirds tumble into the morning air. Penny springs into action, catching every last one. But getting them safely back to their mama means building the tallest, wobbliest, most questionable tower the patio has ever seen. Courage? Plenty. A solid plan? Not exactly.
From the creator of The Giving Project for Children comes Super Penny Puppy: Penny Takes Flight, a heartwarming and hilarious picture book about kindness, courage, and the messy, wonderful truth that heroes do not need a perfect plan. They just need a big heart and the willingness to try. Will Penny save the day before her family comes home to discover the evidence? One thing is certain: she would do it all again. In a heartbeat.
For Parents & Educators
Big Adventures. Even Bigger Lessons.
Ages 3–8 | Kindness • Courage • Creativity • STEAM
Super Penny Puppy: Penny Takes Flight is more than a funny puppy adventure. It’s a story that inspires children to think creatively, persevere through challenges, and discover how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Penny’s daring rescue provides a natural springboard for meaningful conversations and hands-on learning. From engineering a stronger tower to exploring how birds fly, young readers can take Penny’s adventure beyond the pages and into the real world.
Because every child has the power to be a hero.
Kindness Kit
Let’s Discover, Create, and Share Kindness Together!
Extend Penny’s adventure with engaging, hands-on activities designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and compassion.
- Engineer: Design, build, test, and improve—just like Penny!
- Create: Use imagination and creativity to bring new ideas to life.
- Learn: Explore the science and nature behind Penny’s adventure.
- Give: Turn kindness into action by finding ways to help others.
- Reflect & Teach: Think about Penny’s choices and discover what it means to be an everyday hero.
Teacher-Created Resources to Support You and Your Learners
Created by an award-winning elementary educator with more than 20 years of classroom experience, these resources connect literacy, social-emotional learning, and STEAM through meaningful, age-appropriate activities.
Whether you’re reading at home, teaching in a classroom, or leading a library program, Penny’s adventures offer opportunities to read, wonder, build, create, and make a difference.
- Mission Reports
- Family Reading Guide
- Teacher Reading Guide
- Skill Worksheets
- Activity pages
About the Author
Jennifer Welby Gilbert is an award-winning educator, nonprofit founder, and children’s author whose work brings together literacy, kindness, STEAM learning, and community service. A 2025 Phillies Teacher of the Year, she has helped children raise more than $400,000 for charitable causes through her organization, The Giving Project for Children. Her debut picture book, Super Penny Puppy: Penny Takes Flight, celebrates courage, creativity, and the power of helping others.
