Title: Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure
Author: Alex T. Smith
Genre: early chapter book/comedy
Similar books: Didi Dodo, Future Spy by Tom Angleberger
Snazzy Cat Capers by Deanna Kent
Rating:
 |
| cute and fun |
Summary (provided by publisher): He has a dashing hat. He has a battered satchel. He has a packed lunch of fish finger sandwiches. Now he just needs an adventure! So when Boudicca Bones from the Museum of Extraordinary objects calls for help, Mr. Penguin swings into action. Can he and Colin the spider find the museum’s missing treasure before bandits do? Or is this the adventure Mr. Penguin should have never answered? This humorous page-turning story from Alex T. Smith, the author-illustrator of the popular Claude series, is sure to thrill young readers looking for a good adventure.
My opinion: A book from the creator of Claude? What's not to like. While Mr. Penguin lacks the off-the-wall humor of the Claude series, it's solidly plotted and has a strong sense of adventure. Mr. Penguin, Colin, and Boudicca face dangers and solve clues. It combines a hint of mystery with a hunt for treasure. Just enough danger to keep it exciting without ever becoming truly frightening for a child. I'll be interested to see what direction Smith takes this series.
More information: Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure releases April 1.
Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
Total read in March thus far: 46
The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
Total read in March thus far: 44
I've mined my sketch books and photos of scrap paper doodles for this collection of some of my favorite drawings.
Hey There, Earth Dweller by Marc ter Horst
Total read in March thus far: 41
Friendroid by M.M. Vaughan
Total read in March thus far: 38
Title: Ivy and the Goblins
Author: Katherine Coville
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: The Spell Thief by Tom Percival
Clover's Luck by Kallie George
Rating:
 |
| simple and sweet |
Summary (provided by publisher): The quiet town of Broomsweep has just started to adjust to the dragon, pixies, and gryphon who decided to call Ivy's cottage home when a farmer proposes an unusual trade. In exchange for curing his goat of a bellyache, the farmer will give Ivy and her grandmother a mysterious egg. When the egg hatches to reveal a baby goblin, the creature creates such mayhem, even Grandmother doesn't know what to do. It's up to Ivy and a few of her magical friends to brave a dark forest and find the goblin's family. There's just one problem: Goblins can't STAND humans! Will Ivy's daring misson succeed?
My opinion: I didn't realize, going into this book, that it was part of a series. I hadn't read the previous book but that wasn't too much of a problem in this case. There were a few references to events of the first book but the plot largely stands on it's own. The plot is straightforward, without much nuance. Sentence construction is simple as well. So, it's easy for a young reader to follow but may become tiresome for older readers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
