Einstein the Penguin The Case of the Polar Poachers

‘Children halt nefarious exotic pet scheme’, to borrow a headline from sneaky journalist Sullivan Prior, in this the third adventure starring junior detective Imogen Stewart, her eight-year-old brother Arthur and, of course, Einstein the penguin. If you haven’t had the pleasure yet of reading Iona Rangeley’s tales of Einstein and his friends, the stories bring the children up against penguin thief, villainous Vanessa Hunter as they thwart her efforts to sell penguins on the black market. In this adventure, Einstein and his friend Isaac are happily settled into London Zoo, or so we think, and Imogen has set aside her detective kit, as unnecessary – and embarrassing – to a year seven. But mysterious penguin disappearances from Sandwich Island in the Antarctic indicate human interference, and Arthur and Einstein are determined Imogen should come out of retirement and investigate.

Imogen was born to be a detective, and readers will cheer when she takes up the case, which is full of twists and turns before it reaches its dramatic conclusion in the Ritz.

Iona Rangeley’s writing is a delight to read aloud, and the stories are full of wit and sophistication, as well as perfectly observed descriptions of family life, even if this family’s best friend is a penguin. The joy and the surreal nature of the stories are perfectly captured in David Tazzyman’s distinctive black and white illustrations, and this is a treat from start to finish.