Golden Egg (Spy Penguins #3)

An endearing story for fans of the animated film Ice Age and Kate DiCamillo's Flora & Ulysses(2013)... An entertaining romp.

Gr 3-5—Wannabe FBI—Frosty Bureau of Investigation—agents Jackson and Quigley return for their third adventure, packed with the same arctic puns ("snow and tell," "webbed-site"), wonky gadgets, and comic mishaps that make earlier entries in this series so appealing. The penguin pals' goal remains the same: Prove they have what it takes to be junior agents. The pair get another chance when notorious jewel thief Icejob breaks out of jail and is tracked to Rookeryville's Golden Egg Games, where Jackson is competing with his soon-to-be-hatched sibling. Hay keeps the action moving quickly, using Jackson's problem-solving skills and Quigley's talent for invention to evenly balance the narrative between the two main characters. Plot threads deftly come together in a raucous climax featuring an avalanche, helicopters, and a robot woolly mammoth. Jagucki's expressive black-and-white illustrations effectively convey characters' emotions and the novel's broad humor. A few less common terms ("plinth," "eidetic memory") may be momentarily distracting, but serve to expand the reader's vocabulary. This title ably stands alone but is a solid entry in the popular series. VERDICT A loving wink to a legendary literary spy who also fights crime in a tuxedo; give to readers who enjoy mystery, humor, and action.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem P.L., Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for Spy Penguins:

Two young penguins angling for jobs with the FBI (Frosty Bureau of Investigation) solve a dastardly ecocrime in this Antarctic antic . . . Jagucki slips comical cartoon scenes featuring anthropomorphic penguins of diverse breeds into the well-leaded narrative . . . fans will flock to their future capers. —Booklist

Penguin details ("Quigley puffed up his feathers") and humor ("There was one tiny, krill-sized problem with this plan") by Hay (the Undead Pets series) build the world alongside cartoon illustrations by Jagucki. A quick pace, an engaging mystery, and attempted inventions . . .will keep readers hooked on this series opener. —Publishers Weekly

The first in a new series, this is chock full of penguin-themed wordplay . . .Quigley's inventions, including an "invisibility suit" made of sardine poop, are quirky and fun, as are Jackson's attempts to distract his mom from discovering his spy exploits. This light, funny adventure series will appeal to elementary school mystery fans. —School Library Journal