Description: Under the scorching sun of a blazing desert, 50 penguins step off an airship together. Led by their captain, they march forward with unstoppable enthusiasm, chanting 'Heave-ho!' as they explore the sandy dunes. When the penguins stop their march to examine a curious stone, they suddenly find themselves transformed into a detective squad without even realizing it. The 'stone' turns out to be a scorpion's home, and when the scorpion emerges, it comes face-to-face with the Penguin Detectives. This is the very scorpion that once stung a turtle's back with its poisonous tail and fled the scene — it flinches instinctively, but decides to tag along with the penguin detectives anyway. The premise itself is wonderfully absurd: penguins, who are meant to live in the freezing Antarctic, exploring a scorching desert. Yet thanks to the book's spare, understated language and tone, this irony never feels forced — it simply feels delightful. Written by Hiroshi Saito. Recent works include the Pig-Tanuki Series Set (6 books + activity book), Pig-Tanuki Becomes a Nurse, Pig-Tanuki Becomes a Police Officer, and over 137 other titles. Born in Tokyo, he graduated from Chuo University and completed a doctoral program in German literature at Chuo University's graduate school. He is a children's literature author, a scholar of German literature, and a professor in the School of Business Administration at Asia University. He made his literary debut with Rudolf and Ippai Attena, which won the Kodansha Award for New Writers in Children's Literature. Its sequel, Rudolf and Friends' Independence, won the Noma Children's Literature New Writer's Prize, and Merry Christmas at Penguin House won the Robo-no-ishi Children's Literature Award. His other works include Penguin Expedition Team, The Diary of a Lost White Owl, Christmas on the Southern Island, and The Bats of Denko Forest. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. Recent works include Whose Bicycle Is This? and over 70 other titles. Born in Nagoya, Japan, he graduated from Aichi University of Education. His picture book Whose Bicycle Is This? received the Bologna Ragazzi Award at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, and Ai, Sha won the Japan Picture Book Award. Two Sloths won the Kodansha Publishing Culture Award for Picture Books. His other works include I Am a Giraffe Living in Africa, I Am a Whale Living at Whale Cape, Who Am I?, Grandmother's Organ, and Heave-Ho, Penguin Expedition Team. Translated by Ko Hyang-ok. Recent works: over 237 titles. She studied Japanese literature at Dongduk Women's University and its graduate school, and studied the Japanese language and culture at Nagoya University in Japan. She currently studies Korean and Japanese children's literature with the Korea-Japan Children's Literature Research Society, and works to bring wonderful Japanese books to Korean readers. She has translated numerous children's and young adult books, including Barami Fox Elementary School, Bye Bye, I Walk with My Mouth, Taro, the Dragon's Child, My Final Race with That Guy, and What's Wrong with My Weight? The cheerful Penguin Detectives begin their investigation! No one truly knows the identity of these puzzling penguin sleuths. The 50-member squad is always on the move, endlessly searching for new places to explore, and readers can't help but feel their hearts race as they follow along on each new adventure. Of course, penguins exploring a desert seems perfectly natural in the story — but stop and think about it for a moment, and it's utterly absurd, since penguins are meant to live in the freezing Antarctic! It's this very irony, handled with such spare and understated language and attitude, that makes readers so curious about what these penguins are really thinking. That sense of mystery is exactly what carries the story forward and fills it with cheerful charm. The Penguin Detectives operate with perfect teamwork, each faithfully carrying out their role, always ready to set off on their next adventure — even when the challenge ahead is daunting. As children read this book, they'll discover humor, ease of mind, and the spirit of adventure.