Rating: Not for me

Reading level: Mid-late Elementary

The Mr. Penguin hilarity continues in this sea-fairer’s mystery that involves kidnapping and a kracken sea monster. Mr. Penguin’s obsession with food and fear of water continue as he stumbles into yet another mystery.

Possible concerns: (SPOILER ALERTS!)

  • a Kracken sea monster.
  • Scallywags. A hideous, greedy villain and his scandalous crew of pirates
  • Body Humor. A reference to something being tucked up into a brassiere (bra). Several references to peoples bottoms: waggling bottoms, webbing coming from spiders’ bottoms, and a baby’s bare bottom.
  • Mythology/Greek gods/Paganism. A fountain of youth guarded by an island adorning murals of mermaids and the sea god Posiedon and a kracken. The island seems to have a mind of its own and can sense when rules are being violated regarding its power.
  • Obsession with food. References to food, needing a snack, etc. (if your child struggles with any eating disorders, this might trigger things as Mr. Pengiun is definitely preoccupied with food).

Things I do like:

  • The spider is hilarious with what he writes on his notepad
  • A brave little girl goes after her kidnapped grandfather

Bottom line (pun not intended!): The potty/bottom humor is a little stronger in this one, and the silliness wasn’t quite as clever. So I’m not sure this one is a net gain. I liked the earlier ones a bit more. Here are links to my reviews of other Mr. Penguin books:

Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasurehttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/2022/08/01/mr-penguin-the-lost-treasure-by-alex-t-smith/My Bookshelf
Mr. Penguin and the Fortress of Secretshttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/mr-penguin-and-the-fortress-of-secrets-by-alex-t-smith/Needs Parent Supervision
Mr Penguin and The Catastrophic Cruisehttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/2023/02/19/mr-penguin-and-the-catastrophic-cruise-by-alex-t-smith/Not Recommend