Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets

Mr Penguin #2

by Alex T. Smith

From the internationally bestselling creator of Claude comes a hero like no Mr Penguin. Indiana Jones meets Hercule Poirot in this series from Alex T. Smith, ideal for 7+ readers of Dave Pigeon.Follow Mr Penguin and Colin as they crash-land on a snowy mountain. Will they be able to solve the mystery of the missing pets? What are the strange noises coming from the abandoned fortress? And will Mr Penguin conquer his fear of flying?Find out in the second Mr Penguin book with plenty of slapstick humour, mystery and adventure. Highly illustrated throughout with a striking black and orange design.Praise for Mr Penguin and the Lost slapstick' - Guardian'The perfect introduction to mystery stories' - ScotsmanHave you read them all? 1. Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure2. Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets3. Mr Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise4. Mr Penguin and the Tomb of Doom

Genres: Adventure, Humor, Mystery, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Middle Grade

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2018

About the author

Alex T. Smith is the creator of the much-loved and bestselling Claude fiction series for early readers. He was the official World Book Day illustrator in 2014, and other recent accolades include the UKLA Picture Book Award for Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion and the Children’s Book of the World Illustration Award for illustrating Dodie Smith’s The Hundred and One Dalmatians. When not working, Alex enjoys doodling in his sketchbook, reading, people-watching, and eavesdropping. He lives under the watchful eye of his small canine companions, who are a constant source of inspiration to him.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this aloud over several months. When asked to rate this book, my companion aged six proposed six stars (coincidence? I think not); while my companion aged seven proposed one to two stars, and then immediately asked to borrow the book so he could reread it himself. I’m not sure we’ve mastered the five star system.

This is an adventure story and mystery with a penguin - Mr. Penguin, no less - as the protagonist. It’s light and goofy, with a smattering of Indiana Jones allusions. My fellow readers appreciated the intermittent illustrations; at the end of an evening’s reading we would often flip ahead to look at the pictures and try to guess upcoming plot points. This book would be ideal for the early reader - large font, plenty of action, aforementioned illustrations - except that for some reason the author (editor? publisher?) choose to interject occasional diary entries from our mysterious villain written in SCRIPT. What were they thinking?!! Three stars.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What great books these are...witty, clever writing, lovely illustrations, great for reluctant readers, full of adventure.

[Chrisdee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as mysterious or as funny as the first !

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Penguin is on an adventure, trying to save a mysterious rock from a band of thieves when his plane crashes in a remote mountain village. He's eager to leave, but suspicious rodent disappearances have been happening all through town, a situation made more serious since the village is hosting a hamster championship. Mr. Penguin isn't sure he can help, but until his plane is fixed, he's happy to do a bit of investigating. Hopefully it doesn't get too dangerous ...

Like the first book in this series, this is a heart-stopping adventure with just the right amount of silliness. I'm delighted that my local library has the next few books so I can get started reading them right away.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun adventure with a nervous hero and his band of buddies! The action never stops, and there are dastardly deeds to foil and heroism to accomplish! And now I'm hungry and need to have a fish sandwich.

[Anthony Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, although perhaps not as much as my 7yo and 10yo who were utterly enamoured with it. Mister penguin is a very likeable protagonist and the plot is fun if a little derivative (cough demon headmaster cough). The jokes are solid and it's nicely written. Probably a slight improvement on the first book.

There is no doubt I'll be required to read the third book but it will be a pleasure to do so!

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would 100% recommend this book but if you have not read mr penguin 1 you should read that first otherwise this will book will not not make sense.
The charters are good and I love how they go on adventures and that is definitely my type of book.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is JAM-PACKED with mystery. Why have clocks stopped? Who is the mysterious man? What’s the mysterious stone? Who is writing the mysterious between chapter bits? I really enjoyed this. This brings a fair few chuckles. Alex’s illustrations are just divine!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Penguin is back! This time we get mystery stones, secret fortresses and a ton of hamsters!


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!

In this book we start off with a strange letter addressed to Mr. Penguin and from there we go to Mr. Penguin who is on a mission! A very exciting one! And then things happen and it ties all with that first letter and I was just absolutely squeeing in delight because I just adored how coincidentally it all just clicked together, even if Mr. Penguin is a tad confused. XD

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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~

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.)

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Mr. Penguin Mystery series. These are early chapter books that would be great for anyone, but especially reluctant readers. It is a fun story with enough illustrations to add much to the story. Mr. Penguin and his friends Colin the spider, Edith and Gordon the pigeon are trying to keep a rock/gem safe from a trio of baddies. They hop on a plane and it crashes on a snowy mountain. They are saved by a pair of twins and taken to their town, Schneedorf-on-the-Peak. Dieter had written to Mr. Penguin to come and help find his hamster, Mr. Tufytbum alonw with some other rodents who have disappeared. He thought that was why The Adventurers were there. That was not reason, but they decided to help while waiting for a way to go home. Putting themselves in danger, they end up saving the day. This group of Adventurers bumble through the case, have some luck thrown their way and with Colin the Spider's plans and quick thinking, they solve all the mysteries and tie things up before heading home.

I read this book to my grandson and he really enjoyed the antics of Mr. Penguin and his friends. He laughed along with their adventures and said this one was even better than the last one. He is hoping there will be another Mr. Penguin Adventure. I have to say, he loved Mr. Tuftybum's name, but he is a 7 year old boy, so of course he did. This book could be read aloud or independently (children ages 8 to 9). I recommend this one, especially for classrooms and family libraries.

[Lilyfae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Penguin and his team of Adventurers; Colin, Edith Hedge & Gordon the pigeon are sidetracked returning from a mission by crashing into the side of a mountain and end up discovering a mystery has unravelled in the town of Schneedorf on the Peak. With the help of local children and the Haus of Strudel the adventurers try to discover the mystery of the missing hamsters with much frivolity, misinterpretation and slapstick along the way.

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.

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 .

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!

The illustrations are just wonderful with their black, grey, white and orange Penguin tones throughout adding a distinctive style that is at once refreshing yet familiar, and not just through the references to Indiana Jones ("It belongs in a museum!" lead to much chortling here).

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Penguin, Colin, Edith, and Gordon are saving a rock that belongs in the museum from some shifty characters. Their escape lands them on a very remote mountain where the locals are thrilled to see Mr Penguin. They are hoping the sleuth can help them solve the mystery of where their pet hamsters have disappeared to.

I forgot how awesome Mr Penguin's sidekick Colin the kungfu spider is. He's my favorite character, and that's saying quite a lot because I love penguins. This is a nice, light-hearted mystery that still keeps readers guessing and exercising their crime solving brain cells. Mr Penguin is a slightly bumbling sleuth who means well and only triumphs by bravely putting his stomach on hold (and usually listening to his friends, especially Colin). I like the inclusion of two new friends, a tender-hearted boy who rallies the village and a girl who is a whiz with clockwork mechanisms. And I learned a few new fun British slang terms. If you're looking for a fun mystery for advanced lower grade readers or lower middle grade readers with memorable characters, look no further.

Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. Things get a little tense, but everyone makes it out ok. (Though those who REALLY don't like snakes may want to close their eyes through the big rescue scene.)

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Mr. Penguin might be considered a flawed hero with his fear of flying, cluelessness, and abiding interest in fish food, there is something endearing about this unlikely adventurer. But his heart is in the right place, and he has supportive friends in Colin, Edith, and Gordon. In this, his second adventure, Mr. Penguin has just wrapped up one case when another one happens his way. At first readers won't see a connection between the rock he snags and keeps out of the hands of some determined thugs and the missing hamsters he agrees to find for the citizens of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak despite the fact that there are snakes and a hypnotist involved. The plane crash and cool inventions described and illustrated are sure to hold readers' attention in this, Mr. Penguin's second adventure. Fans of the series need not fear that it's coming to a close as Mr. Penguin has more adventures awaiting in. Now if he can just find time to eat those fish sandwiches, everything will be perfect. There's so much adventure packed into this book's pages that many reluctant readers will forget their reluctance to read and tear through the book while enjoying some of its surprises. The droll humor with which the story is told and Colin's ever-ready appendages prepared to defend his turf make the book positively addictive.

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Penguin is a penguin.” Makes sense, right? But… that’s not the whole story. He is also an adventurer. With his friends Colin the spider, Edith, and Gordon the pigeon, he solves mysteries and fights bad guys! This book is the second installment in the Mr. Penguin series by Alex Smith. In this book, a lovable penguin named Mr. Penguin and his friends crash land on Schneedorf, and are welcomed into the city of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak, where a mystery of missing rodents awaits…

Set in Schneedorf-on-the-Peak, a town prided on its annual rodent races, this story is much like the book version of a silly cartoon such as Phineas and Ferb or Scooby-Doo. This book is geared towards younger readers, ages 8-12 in my opinion, because of the large font and playful feel, but older readers can equally enjoy the funny characters and silly plot. I would give this book 5 stars because it is funny and adorable with great illustrations. A fun, light read.
Reviewed by Sabina E., age 11, Greater Los Angeles Mensa

[Sara Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out of order. Apparently this was the second book and I had no clue, but for reading it out of order I still LOVED it. This was packed with adventure and mystery. Mr. Penguin not only solved one but two mysteries. Mr. Penguin is a simple penguin who wants to be just like his book hero and go on crazy adventures but all the while still be in his comfy igloo back in cityville with a tray of fish paste sandwiches.

Mr. Penguin has is comrades Edith and Gordon the pigeon and his best friend and partner in crime Colin the spider who has Kung fu fight skills. They all go on this crazy adventure and in the end is just one big family.

I thought this was absolutely adorable. The pictures were great and helped tell the story. I gave this book 4 stars just because the writing style of the book was too simple. It was a 29 chapter book but felt like it was written for a child’s picture page book. All in all grow thumbs up.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Penguin and his sidekick Colin the spider are back for another mystery/adventure. This is a lighthearted, comical book full of plot twists and daring escapes and silliness. These books have been compared to Inspector Flytrap and as great for fans of Smith's Claude series and I'd agree on both counts. This chapter book is the second in the series and follows Mr Penguin and Colin from a fancy-Bond-esque party situation to a daring airplane escape to a mountain town full of mystery. There are shadowy figures, a hypnotist aiming at world domination, and a host of missing pets. These are spun together in a page-turning story and illustrated with Smith's emotion filled and often hilarious drawings. Picture a bond movie without the girls and bond is actually a penguin. Clever, fun, and unpredictable this is a fun early chapter book to put in the hands of an 8-12 year old.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Mr Penguin series and one of my 8 year old's favourites! As a 36 year old I'm not ashamed to say I enjoy them too!

In this installment of adventures we're back on a mystery with Mr Penguin and his monobrowed kung-fu spider sidekick, Colin. Edith and Gordon the pigeon are along for the ride too!

I really loved the cosy setting of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak for this one, and my son was obsessed with strudel throughout 😂

It was interesting how we got an insight into the villian from the beginning with the letters between each chapter, and it was actually hard to dislike them!

The illustrations were brilliant again too and really brought the whole story to life.

There was a happy ending all round and I look forward to the next one - hopefully we will meet some of the new characters again!

[Amy W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first installment (my husband did) but I enjoyed reading this one aloud to my son.

Colin the kung fu spider is a hoot and the tone of the book was a good level for primary school children. I liked the fact the antagonist was a woman (initially assumed by myself and the characters to be a man) and also that the twins' traditional gender roles were flipped with the girl being messy and scientific and the boy being tidy and no help in a crisis. This sort of gentle representation is so good to see in modern storytelling, especially books aimed at children.

I didn't really understand the point of the old lady sidekick but maybe she had a more prominent role in the first outing and/or in subsequent books. I'll definitely be looking out for them. I much preferred this author's style to David Walliams.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Peachtree Publishing Company through NetGalley.
This is the second in the series but readers can read them out of order and still understand the plot. Mr. Penguin and his band of adventurers manage to retrieve an important stone through a set of comedic events to begin the story. As they escape, they crash land in a village and have to solve another mystery to save the world. Again, through missteps and errors, they complete their tasks and save the world from an evil hypnotist intent on taking control of humans everywhere.
Elementary level readers will love the pure silliness of the characters and situations.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough, but where in the first book I found Mr. Penguin's constant thoughts of fish finger sandwiches and food in general humorous and charming- in this book I found it to be sort of annoying. He seemed much more interested in food than either of the mysteries or saving his friend also- I don't really feel like he added much to the story in general- which is wild because he's the main character. It seems like everyone around him does all the work and figuring out of things- he's definitely not main character material. Collin, however remains to be an absolute delight. The art remains charming and adorable. But I think this is where I end my journey with the Mr. Penguin series.

[Kat Ice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently got this ARC and wanted to read it before it came out. This one comes out in October 2019. I had not read the first one but it didn't really seem like you needed too. I thought this was a cute kids book but not that cute that I wanted to run out and get the first one. Yeah if I come across it then maybe I'll pick it up but I wouldnt go out of my way. The characters were all really weird. Didn't seem like a group that would actually be friends. The writing seemed dull but at least it did flow through okay. Cute for a kids read but that's about it.

[Stories Under Starlight Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, my children were absolutely hooked on Mr. Penguin, Colin the spider, and the rest of his motley crew as they scuttled their way through an adventure on the mountains of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak, fighting off a hypnotist, finding a missing army of rodents, and trying to hold onto a mysterious stone whilst evading the mysterious man in black *cue theme song, minus the aliens in this particular case*. These books are silly and full of pretentious words and phrases so of course they are a delight to read aloud.

[Nathan Seale · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the Mr. Penguin adventure series; I just finished reading the book to the kids and they thoroughly enjoyed it. While the first book was the best thus far, "The Fortress of Secrets" was a thrilling sequel. I would recommend for kids aged 4 - 10. Oh, and don't forget to bring some fish-finger sandwiches as snacks along the way

[Jill CD · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could you go wrong with a penguin detective, a unibrow kung-fu spider, a wonky pigeon, and an older woman who “borrows” things like motorbikes. This hilarious adventure, where Colonel Tuftybum must be found, will captive readers. The illustrations add to the story making for a book that can put into many hands. Loved it!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot tell you just how much I love these books!! I don't do this often, but I am definitely buying these for my personal collection. They are hilarious, fantastic mysteries and such good writing and illustrations. If your library does not have them, they are new so definitely ask if they can be added to the collection.

Found in L4M YT Volume 35.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this series with my son, it is so clever. An adventure loving, but truly sensible Mr. Penguin who loves fish finger sandwiches is a perfect main character. He is surrounded by the perfect cast of characters- a king-fu loving spider, a quirky bird lady and loveable pigeon, Gordon. It is truly a delight!

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed by both Violet and me - we especially liked that a couple of our expectations were turned on their heads, and the kindness in how the baddie was dealt with. As always, the illustrations are great too. Looking forward to Mr. Penguin and Colin’s next adventure!

[Beth Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud to Gwen. As much as we loved the first book, this second one did not live up to my expectations. Gwen still enjoyed it, but I found it to be cumbersome to read, a rambling storyline that went on too long with too many ridiculous situations.