Mr. Penguin, adventurer and penguin, stole readers' hearts in Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure (2019). Now he, Colin (his spider assistant), and Edith and Gordon (a kooky lady and her pigeon) are on a curious case in the distant, snowy mountain town of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak, where everyone's hamsters and pet mice have quite suddenly disappeared. Additionally, strange lights have been seen issuing from the abandoned fortress on the neighboring mountain. Coincidence? Adding further intrigue to this scenario are diary entries from Dr. Mesmero, recounting a childhood dominated by performing hypnosis for the rich and a growing desire to get revenge upon them. As per usual, Smith delivers a peppy mystery brimming with absurdity and laughs, suspenseful moments, and detailed two-tone illustrations. The idiosyncratic crew has more heart than talent, which results in some genuinely funny moments shioning extra-large underwear into emergency parachutes, for instance. Hero and villain tropes give the entire adventure the feel of a well-crafted cartoon episode, and kids will eagerly stay tuned.

Mr. Penguin and his intrepid band face adventure once more following series opener Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure (2019).Adventurer Mr. Penguin is once again joined by Colin the kung fu spider, the handy Edith Hedge (a human with an elastic definition of borrowing), and silent pigeon Gordon on a mysterious mission. While attempting to recover the Enigma Stone for Professor Stout-Girdle, the group crash-lands their—urm, borrowed plane on a mountaintop near the tiny snowbound town of Schneedorf-on-the-Peak. Siblings Dieter and Lisle Strudel rescue them from a certain snowy demise and then ask their assistance. There are strange goings-on in the village (all the rodents are vanishing), and the abandoned fortress built by Grandfather Grimm has suddenly come back to life. Can the two occurrences be connected? Can the adventurers and their new kid friends find and rescue the rodents of the town in time for the 32nd International Rodent Games? Who is Dr. Mesmero, and what is her diabolical plan? And will Mr. Penguin ever see Cityville again…or get another fish finger sandwich? Mr. Penguin's second caper is as silly as the first, and as disappointing in its casting of the only apparent human of color—Edith—as a thief. Pages from Dr. Mesmero's journal, black-and-white illustrations with pops of orange, and occasional orange pages break up the short chapters.Fans will be happy more adventures are in the offing. (Adventure. 6-11)