cover image Cracking the Case of the Missing Egg (Farm Crimes #1)

Cracking the Case of the Missing Egg (Farm Crimes #1)

Sandra Dumais. OwlKids, $16.95 (48p) ISBN 978-1-77147-415-3

A “day like any other on the farm” takes an exciting turn when animals Pig, Dog, Cow, Sheep, and Raccoon, hearing a “blood-chilling scream,” discover that someone has stolen Hen’s egg. The barnyard friends know there’s only one thing to do: with three hearty rings of Cow’s bell, they summon Insp. Billiam Van Hoof, World’s #1 Goat Detective. As the animals track down clues, finding bits of straw, a broken eggshell, and a yellow feather, it quickly becomes clear that the over-the-top inspector, with his assorted paraphernalia (“detective sandals”) and goofy disguise (a dashing mustache), is truly terrible at solving mysteries. Dumais’s paneled illustrations add extra brightness and humor to the mystery as Hen stomps around in pink bunny slippers and Sheep nervously knits. Intermediate readers will welcome the engaging inspector for investigative fun. Ages 6–9. (Sept.)