  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 12/01/2018 K-Gr 3—Chilly Da Vinci is a young inventor. While his friends are busy doing "penguin things," he builds machines. While many admire his ingenuity, his nemesis, Vinnie, "won't stop gakkering at me." So when the Good Bird accidentally cracks their iceberg, sending Chilly and friends afloat to sea, Da Vinci becomes convinced that his "flying machines stink like rotten orca blubber in the midday sun." To make matters worse, a large whale aka "Mr. Plumpy Fin," appears to be after them. Still, a good inventor never gives up, so Chilly draws up plans for a sea roller made of sea junk and then an underwater boat, the Mega Lisa, both of which are mega failures. Despite Vinnie's continued jeers and his own disappointment, a stroke of genius inspired by a gliding seagull prompts Chilly to use wind power to create a new, improved flying machine. He is successful, delivering his friends home to cheering crowds. An author's note explains Rutland's inspiration, Leonardo Da Vinci, and offers some advice to young innovators. Endpapers are sketched in brown on a weathered brown background to mimic the master's original designs. The illustrations, which appear to be ink and watercolor in black, white, blue and brown, are filled with detailed ink designs, comical asides, and action. VERDICT A lively addition to makerspace collections that's sure to inspire and nurture a spirit of invention.—Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 12/01/2018 According to the other penguins, Chilly isn't very good at penguin things; he's too busy inventing. But it was one of his erstwhile inventions that caused Chilly, along with a few of his fellow penguins, to be separated from the rest of their colony: his flying machine cracked the ice, and now they're adrift on a slowly shrinking iceberg, eyed by a hungry orca. But Chilly got them into this, and he's determined to invent a machine that will get them out. He has lots of great ideas (a boat called the Polar Roller! A submarine called the Mega Lisa!), but they keep failing. Then, one day, as he watches the seagulls overhead, Chilly realizes maybe he made some mistakes with his first flying machine. Action-packed panels, diagrams of Chilly's inventions (and daydreams), and nods to Leonardo da Vinci make this a goodhearted embrace of trial and error and a celebration of failure as a learning experience. Rutland's energetic illustrations, peppered with side comments from background characters, add plenty of personality. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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