Gr 2-4 The "Bad Guys" return for another rescue mission. This time their goal is to free 10,000 chickens from Sunnyside Chicken Farm. Readers new to the series will benefit from the summary that kicks off the story. However, fans of the original will also delight in one of the most creative synopses appearing in serial books. In this second tale, Mr. Wolf is still trying to prove that his crew is filled with "good guys," which isn't always easy. While Mr. Snake agrees to aid in the chickens' release, it is clear to readers that he would rather eat them. To accomplish the chicken rescue operation, Mr. Wolf must enlist the help of a computer-hacking expert. Despite Mr. Shark's trepidation, a tarantula joins the team. In a spoof on "Mission Impossible," the heroes must break into the security system, navigate laser beams, and avoid wall sensors. It's "Mission, Like, Totally Impossible." Blabey continues to charm a wide age range of readers with uproarious storytelling and artwork that features exaggerated facial expressions. Readers will revel in the voice of his newest character. Variations in font sizes and styles not only make the pages sizzle but also aid developing readers. A twist at the end of this installment is sure to have kids begging to read more. VERDICT Guaranteed to be a hit for chapter book readers looking for humor and action.— Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH

The foursome of reformed villains returns with a new mission and new team member in a continued effort to repair their reputations in Blabey's (The Bad Guys, 2017) rollicking sequel. This second installment opens with our would-be heroes, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha, fresh from their bold liberation of the local pound, finding that the media is not spinning in their favor. Accused of terrorizing rather than rescuing, the group (at least Mr. Wolf) refuses to admit defeat—"We're the GOOD GUYS here!"—and begins planning a new mission to free innocent chickens from their deplorable confinement in the Sunnyside Chicken Farm. But if the team can't work together—something all the more difficult with the team a little panicked by the addition of Legs (a friendly, tech-genius tarantula) and one of the group suspiciously excited to greet the chickens—a rescue mission may be all but impossible. Despite some language devaluing of mental diversity ("freak out," "loco," etc.) that may turn some readers off, Blabey once again deploys moral ambiguity to overall success, challenging fear as a justification for prejudice and mistakes as reasons to give up. The narrative has lost no comic momentum from first to second book, juxtaposing classic riffs on Mission Impossible and new visual gags unique to these delightfully wry characters. Another uproarious romp that explores what it is to be good as well as do good. (Fiction. 7-11)