Greatness comes in all shapes and sizes, but there is no doubt that it is coursing through the black-and-white wings of Penguin the magpie.

The bird became an international news and social media sensation after befriending an Australian family and helping them cope with a tragic accident. Not long before meeting Penguin, Sam Bloom suffered a fall that left her body paralyzed, her spirit broken and her family reeling. Shortly after the fall, one of Sam’s three sons found Penguin, who, as just a chick, had herself fallen out of her nest and was in desperate need of help to survive. The Blooms nursed Penguin back to health, and through the journey mended some of the tears left by Sam’s accident.

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The family soon found they had formed a friendship with the playful, curious, caring and joyful animal, who lifted Sam from her depression and put smiles on everyone’s face. Dad, Cameron Bloom, started photographing the tender and silly interactions between Penguin, Sam and his sons. Soon it became clear this bird was something special and had grown to be an important fixture in the family. Penguin’s resilience helped the Blooms power through. Her compassion allowed them to accept life’s gift once again.

It is a power that has enchanted countless others through Penguin’s Instagram account, which currently has over 147,000 followers and is going to reach even more thanks to her new book and upcoming film. To celebrate the release of Penguin the Magpie: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family, PEOPLE checked in with the Bloom family to see what they think of their winged savior’s stardom.

Image zoom Cameron Bloom

How did Penguin come into your life?

Penguin fell some 30 meters from a nest onto the road just outside Sam’s mum’s house. We estimated that she was about 3 weeks old and very vulnerable. She would have surely perished without immediate care. We decided to bring her home and care for her.



How would your lives be different without her?

Sam had spent 7 months recovering in the hospital after her tragic fall, so arriving home was both difficult and a sad time for her especially because everything she once loved was now lost. Our family life was probably at its lowest point just before Penguin arrived, and I know from that day on, Sam’s spirits lifted and moments of happiness began infiltrating our family. When Sam smiled, we all did. I often wonder about how many people out there have had tragic accidents or periods in their lives, but no Penguin to help comfort them. We all feel incredibly fortunate to have cared for a wild bird and to have her live with us until eventually she found her own freedom. The joy and fulfillment we received by caring for Penguin helped all of us.



How has he inspired you?

Penguin to me is a bigger metaphor for nature – if we take care, love and respect our planet, then happiness and positivity follows.



Image zoom Cameron Bloom

What is your reaction to the love and fascination others have for Penguin?

Initially, it was wonderful to see so much praise for my images of the boys, Sam and Penguin. After all these years, I still love shooting images that capture a special moment. Good composition, light are all important, but it is the feeling in your heart that you have when you see a truly wonderful image. I think people on Instagram are mostly sick of seeing self portraits and those narcissistic accounts that populate today’s world. I’ve developed a following that cherishes nature, humanity and kindness, and I’m blessed to be given an opportunity to have told the whole story of how Penguin helped Sam recover from such tragedy.

What do you think of his upcoming book?

Bradley Trevor Greive, Sam, the boys and I are all very proud of Penguin the Magpie, which I spent 2 years documenting. Initially, I had no interest in creating a book and just enjoyed capturing the images and showcasing them on Instagram. After so many inquiries from publishers, Bradley Trevor Greive and I decided to collaborate. He had the ability to create a unique narrative that used Penguin as a vessel for Sam’s journey. The book became more than just pretty pictures; it turned out to be the most beautiful love story.

What can you share about a potential film project being in the works?

We are very excited about the great people involved in turning our story into a film. It’s still early days, but we hope to have a screenwriter attached shortly. The film will be made here in Australia and Thailand, hoping to film later next year.

Image zoom Cameron Bloom

What do you hope others take from Penguin’s story?

First, never forget that life is a fragile and precious thing. Anything and everything can be taken away from you when you least expect it, through no fault of your own. So make the most of every opportunity you have to live your life fully and to share the best of yourself with those you love most.

And finally, you don’t have to suffer a terrible accident like Sam did to face difficult challenges. We all face different challenges every day, and life can be hard and painful for anyone. But when it seems unbearable, do your best to remain open to love. It’s not easy, but it makes all the difference. No matter how much you hurt, or how bad you feel, accepting the love of others and loving them in return, to whatever degree you can, will help to make you whole again. Bradley Trevor Greive and I are also very excited to be donating 10% of the worldwide royalties from the sale of Penguin the Magpie to support spinal cord injury research. In most cases this donation is matched by our publishing partners. In America, we are proud to support the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

What is something fans of Penguin might not know about her?