Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure: Book 1

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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. I thoroughly enjoy reading anything by Alex T Smith as his distinctive style of writing is a joy to read both for children and adults and lends itself well to those with dramatic tendencies for the rich opportunities for silly voices. Smart" might seem to be an odd word to use to describe a funsy chapter book, but that's one of the distinguishing aspects of this book. The vocabulary isn't unfairly demanding, but Smith sometimes uses words that offer just enough challenge to engage an older reader and to broaden the reading experience. ("The sun was just peeking up above the roofs of the skyscrapers and sparkling off their windows. It made the entire town look like it was covered in sequins.") Sentences are complex, and there's enough subtle irony and deadpan humor mixed in to make the text a bit more sophisticated than seems usual to me. With twenty three short chapters, lots of illustrations, a funny cast of characters and an exciting adventurous story, this is certainly a winner. Best of all, there is a second book in the series planned; “Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets.”

Mr Penguin Series by Alex T. Smith - Goodreads

All in all, a fantastic, hamsterific, adventurous story with great new characters (both villains and non-villains) and I just couldn’t stop reading. I had to finish it. I will definitely be getting the next books, though I am not sure if it will be soon or if I will be waiting until my vacation in August. Would make fun summer reads~ Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Mr Penguin has decided to open his own adventuring business. He and his trusty assistant, Colin, a spider, are ready to be there when you need an adventurer. On his very first day, Mr Penguin is called by the owners of The Museum of Extraordinary Objects to come help them find a treasure. But adventuring turns out to be a whole lot more long, tiring, dangerous, and hungry than Mr Penguin thought it would be. Can he and Colin make it as adventurers? The ending was just fab! It made me wonder if it would all be good in the end, it hypnotised me, it made me laugh, smile, giggle, and I was just delighted to see it all tie together. I am also glad for the villain of the book (and yes, I won’t be saying any more than that, teehee). Mr. Penguin is new to the Adventure business, and untested, but he proves his mettle in this tale. Smith excels at creating characters who are a bit innocent and inexperienced, but full of good instincts, good intentions, and the right stuff. I think these are great sorts of main characters for kids books. Mr. Penguin isn't foolish or sappy or cowardly or "silly". Like the book's readers, he's keen to have adventures, have experiences, do right, and "grow up". That you can have all of that with some excitement and a lot of laughs is just super extra bonus time.

I am normally not a fan of giving the spotlight to villains, I just don’t like villains so much to get up and close with them. But I did quite like the diary parts that we got in this one. It gave a glimpse into the villain, and besides I couldn’t really see them as a big villain. More as a kid who was treated crappily by their parents because of their powers. 😐 It is no wonder they went craycray. So, for me, this is a fine addition to the line and a satisfying and entertaining read on its own. Nicely done. First up a BIG BIG thank you to Santa, aka my husband, for gifting this one for Christmas! I am so hyped to get further in this series as the first book was just so much fun! I love that despite them getting away with the stone and seemingly going into another adventure, the stone is still important. There is someone lurking in the shadows of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak, someone with the same symbol as the people in the beginning. I was just very eager to see how it would all tie together and if this mysterious stranger is good or.. evil.

Penguin Books UK | Official Website Penguin Books UK | Official Website

I also adore that Smith is dedicated to reviving a rich tapestry of quintessentially eccentric British vocabulary for another generation with such delights as 'kerfuffle' and 'skeddaddled' dotting through the otherwise nicely accessible with a touch of stretching vocabulary . The village has a problem. The secret big fortress on the mountain is being lived in. Hamsters and other rodents are disappearing. The yearly contest cannot go on (yes, less terrible I know, but for these people that was a big thing to look forward to). It is up to Mr. Penguin to figure out how the animals are stolen and what is happening at the fortress and I was all there for it! It was really exciting, but also featured enough moments that had me laughing so hard. I just adore the characters, especially Colin with his magical disappearing notebook. I love that we meet new characters and I do hope that we get to see them in other books because I don’t want to leave them.The illustrations were once again AMAZING. I love his art so much and I keep being stunned at how detailed it can go. The cogs and the machinery for instance, holy wow. It is just amazing and I so would love a print of it. We read this aloud and it is great for a range of ages even when Tinyfae was 2 as she was rapt by the story and would proclaim "Oh no!" Or "Mr Penguin!!" at appropriate moments and admonishing me if I wanted to take a break between chapters!

Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets - Goodreads Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets - Goodreads

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. Thank goodness Miss Bones, the curator of the Museum of Extraordinary Objects, needs his help! Her museum is absolutely falling apart and will have to close unless they can find the secret treasure that her great-great-great-grandfather hid somewhere in the museum. She and her brother, Montague, have been searching everywhere but haven't been able to find even a clue. 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. The drawing supports all of that wonderfully. The lines are crisp and clear, and color is understated. The drawings illustrate what's going on in the story, so they are both amusing in their own right and helpful in understanding and following the action. Whimsy is in the eye of the beholder, but at least to me these characters just come across as fun and friendly.Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments