King & Kayla and the Case of the Mysterious Mouse

August 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-King and Kayla return in a new mystery for the early elementary crowd. This time King's ball goes over the fence, but it is not in the neighbor's backyard when they look for it. Can this clever dog and his human find the missing ball? The author has a knack for writing humorous stories from a canine perspective. Youngsters will laugh at King's enthusiasm as each new thing becomes his favorite-playing fetch, running after his ball, eating grilled cheese, and making new friends. Young puppy Thor provides more laughs as he is constantly distracted by butterflies and birds. The digitally-colored and pencil illustrations have a lightness that matches the tone of the story, while the expressive faces of the characters add depth. Readers can see King's disgusted look as he smells something "BAD." The illustrations makes it clear what King means when he says that "Kayla makes mad eyes at" him. Budding detectives will have the benefit of both King's discoveries and Kayla's reasoning as they piece together the clues. VERDICT A welcome addition to collections supporting the transition from picture books to chapter books, this title will appeal to both dog lovers and mystery buffs.-Suzanne Costner, Fairview Elementary School, Maryville, TN

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2017
The gal-and-dog gumshoes are back, this time catching an unexpected culprit in the act. Kayla, a little black girl, and her dog, narrator King, are playing fetch with Jillian, a white pal, and her dog, Thor. Jillian accidentally throws the ball over the neighbor's fence. When she returns, she brings back an identical--but incorrect--ball. King is upset. It smells like another dog. It is not his ball. Luckily, Kayla and King are in tune, and Kayla realizes that King's ball is missing. When they go to the neighbor's yard, there are many other balls, but none that are small and blue. King is reunited with a foe from a previous story (King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats, 2017), a sneaky cat. The cat tells King that Mouse stole the ball. How could a tiny mouse steal a ball? Employing the use of their trademark list of facts, King and Kayla write down everything they know about the case. (King desperately tries to convey the critical information about Mouse, but alas, he is a dog and can't make Kayla understand.) Confusion, mischief, and silliness abound. Kids who don't always have the vocabulary to express themselves will sympathize with this waggish pup and his earnest desire to be understood by his human. (Early reader. 6-8)

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January 1, 2018
Dog King (from Geisel Honor Book �cf2]King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats�cf1]) returns to narrate another beginning chapter book. King loses his favorite ball during a game of fetch with his human Kayla, leading to a simple but satisfying mystery. Humor abounds in text and art as the animal characters (who talk to one another) attempt communication with their oblivious humans.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)