Mr. Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets

Another fun and humor-filled adventure for Mr. Penguin and Colin in book 2 of this adorable series. In this Indiana Jones inspired character, children of all ages will enjoy the cute illustrations and quirky adventures of Mr. Penguin and his companion. It has just enough illustrations throughout the book for those children still transitioning from picture books to chapter books. A perfect addition to your home or school library, and a must-read series for your reluctant readers! You'll want to keep a few copies of each title in your school library. Recommended for ages 7 and up!

A Fine Sequel

This is the second book in the Mr. Penguin series, which now stands at three books but could probably go on for another dozen or so without anyone minding. The first book devoted a good deal of page time and effort to introducing Mr. Penguin, his spider sidekick Colin, and their detective agency. This book takes off like a rocket from page one and the details are filled in on the fly. It would be perfectly fine to start the series here, but I do have a bit of a soft spot for how neatly and elegantly and amusingly Mr. Penguin was first introduced to us.

This time out Mr. Penguin is in full Indiana Jones mode, and the author makes no apologies for that. We have a handy leather satchel instead of a whip, but the gung-ho derring-do is identical. Indeed, possibly as a joke, we open with a ballroom scene about the recovery of an object that plays out very much like the Indiana "Temple of Doom" movie, so there may be a bit of a winking nod there. Once we get through that cold open the real plot starts and it is both easy for a younger reader to follow and inventive and fast paced.

Indeed, what I most appreciate about these books, (apart from the charm and silliness of Mr. Penguin and the cool competence of the unflappable Colin), is how well it combines plot, action and a fast pace, while never outrunning the younger reader. Some elementary and early middle grade books are too simple and some are unnecessarily convoluted, but the Mr. Penguin books hit that sweet middle spot between those extremes.

The drawings, often overlooked or dismissed in books like this, are just right and deserve comment. They are amusing on their own, but of more importance they are inserted at just the right points in the narrative and complement the action in a fashion that guides the younger reader through the story. This isn't by any stretch a graphic novel, but is designed more like a novel that has graphics that actually help explain and illustrate the action.

So, for me, this is a fine addition to the line and a satisfying and entertaining read on its own. Nicely done.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I loved the first Mr. Penguin book and completely adore its sequel. You can't go wrong when you combine Indiana Jones and a penguin. Looking forward to future adventures.