THE PLOT: Meet Mr. Penguin–Adventurer (And Penguin!)
When Mr. Penguin and Colin crash-land on a snowy mountain, they discover strange noises coming from an old, ruined fortress. Might it be connected to the mystery of missing pets? Why are there shadowy figures lurking about? And will Mr. Penguin conquer his fear of flying?
This second installment in the humorous, page-turning series from Alex T. Smith, the author-illustrator of the popular Claude series, is sure to thrill young readers looking for a good adventure.

Publishing Date: October, 2019

Page Count: 288

MY THOUGHTS: I reviewed the first book in the series, Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure, last March. The madcap adventures of Mr. Penguin continue in this new installment. You’ll be fine if deciding to read this one first as it doesn’t take long to get a feel for the character’s personalities.

The illustrations balance the text well and help move the story to a rousing finish. Mr. Penguin isn’t the best sleuth given his sometimes bumbling decisions, but he means well and supplies a lot of the humor. His sidekick, Colin the Kung Fu spider, adds his own brand of one liners. Each typed out on his pad.

The short chapters and fun dialog would make this an appealing read-aloud. British slang also pops up occasionally.  Like the first book, this would be a nice intro to middle grade lit for those stepping up from chapter books. Perfect for ages 8-10.

Nothing to heavy or scary in this lighthearted read (unless you don’t like snakes). Pull up a chair with your favorite plate of fish fingers and disappear into the world of a very unusual penguin.

**Visit Alex T. Smith on Twitter.

**Order your own copy of Mr. Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets and check out the free activity sheets at Peachtree Publishing.

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