Banana Fox and the Secret Sour Society (Banana Fox #1)

Dog Man meets InvestiGators in this enthusiastic early graphic novel series opener by Eisner Award winner Kochalka (Johnny Boo). In 11 chapters, Kochalka follows the clueless, bungling Banana Fox, a bright yellow long-snouted fox and self-proclaimed “world’s greatest detective,” who makes banana smoothies at the local Smoothie Shack after jailing Sour Grapes, the leader of the Secret Sour Society. When a girl with light brown skin and curly orange hair—whom Banana Fox promptly nicknames Flashlight for the red one she carries—warns the detective that the Secret Sour Society is “still at work doing crimes,” Banana Fox, instead of pursuing the tip, deems the weekly Banana Fox Fan Club meeting more pressing. There they discover that someone has stolen bespectacled Vice President William’s pet turtle. Clues lead Banana Fox to the sewers, where Sour Grapes Jr., a grass green fox, has used Super Sour Soda to both mind control William and turn his turtle into a “giant mutant monster.” Full of humorous internal logic (“I figured it out./ William knew that I, Banana Fox... following the clues... would flush myself down the toilet”), bold strokes, and a bright palette, younger readers are sure to enjoy Banana Fox’s shenanigans. Ages 7–10. [em](Jan.) [/em]