John Burns
San Francisco Story Works (2008)
ISBN 978097742275
Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (7/08)
Are you ready for a reunion of two long-lost friends? Can New York City survive one of its new residents trying to solve a crime as well as adjust to its frantic lifestyle? Pengey has traveled a long way searching for Wendy Fitzgerald. He had met Wendy when she had visited Antactica for business. The two became friends. Pengey wanted to travel back to the United States with her so she could do more research. However, the two friends had gotten separated. Would Pengey ever be able to adapt to the climate in America?
Pengey has arrived in America and is overjoyed that he is again close to Wendy. However, he has to spend the first three months in his new country under the guidance of Dr. Jovanovich. The doctor had an environment already created for him, since he was once in charge of a penguin exhibit. It’s a sad day for Dr. Jovanvich when his time with Pengey has come to an end. Wendy on the other hand thinks that the day is the luckiest day of her life but then remembers how happy she was to meet Pengey in his native land.
Everything in Wendy’s home is an adventure for our young penguin friend. All of the foods are different from his usual diet as well. When Thanksgiving comes, he gets to try a new thing; Wendy is afraid that he won’t eat the main dish so she refers to it as “turkey fish.”
Pengey and Wendy get involved in helping with a mystery. Have no fear, a penguin detective is sniffing out clues and no one would ever expect a penguin to be so smart and able to talk to humans. Pengey has fallen in love with a movie detective so he changes his name to Pengey Sloan – Ace Detective. Wendy and Pengey aren’t the only ones involved in trying to solve the crime of stolen Christmas presents from an orphanage. Pengey needs all the help he can get from his animal friends including Lionel Macaw.
“The Further Adventures of Pengey Penguin” by John Burns is an absolutely fabulous book! It’s not just because I love these little creatures from the South Pole. This book has it all; there are lots of places where you’ll laugh at some of his adventures. It is very easy to see why “Pengey Penguin” is an award-winning book. John Burns is hilarious in his storyline of a talking penguin in the Big Apple. The mystery of missing Christmas presents will have you sitting at the edge of your seat to the last chapter. I think kids of all ages will love this book. I hope that John Burns writes more books with Pengey as the main character. You will definitely fall in love with the little guy in the tuxedo!
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