ONE MAD CAT AND THE MISSING BOOK

A grouchy feline plays school sleuth.

Cat is a moody creature. Her list of dislikes is lengthy—hugs, jokes, and noise, to name a few. But she likes a few things, too, and luckily for readers, she especially appreciates puzzles. Arriving at Critter Elementary, Cat finds her pal Hedgehog upset over a missing book. Cat graciously offers to locate Hedgehog’s lost Book of Pie! After a scan of Hedgehog’s backpack and an information-gathering interview, Cat seeks out Bunny, a suspect who loves pie. Cat finds Bunny happily scarfing a slice on the playground, but Bunny claims innocence: “I like eating pie, not reading about pie.” A tour of the school takes Cat to the library to check for the book on the shelves and then back to Hedgehog’s locker, where she gets sticky pink goo on her paws. She counts to 10 to calm down and collects her scattered observations to solve the mystery. Narrative text recording Cat’s inquiry process is interspersed with the intrepid orange-and-white detective’s brief questions and exclamations. Cat’s frustration with everything from crumbs to crowds to bubblegum will provoke gleeful giggles from a sympathetic young audience. Fang’s digital illustrations are cleanly colored and primarily functional, with the delightful exception of Cat’s dramatic facial expressions, creating a straightforward experience for emerging readers.

A simple story line, dry humor, and an enjoyably cranky feline protagonist combine for a satisfying whodunit.