The Detective Dog

Donaldson's pitch-perfect text effectively uses humorous twists and rich vocabulary as well as a fine sense of melodramatic pacing. Bold watercolor-and-pencil illustrations give all the characters distinct personalities and plant funny details to spot in the busy double-page spreads.

A canine with a sophisticated olfactory sense saves the day in this sprightly tale showcasing Donaldson's (Zog and the Flying Doctors) finesse with rhythm and rhyming--and knack for delivering a message with humor. Nell spends most days sniffing out her master Peter's misplaced belongings and solving other conundrums. But on Mondays, she accompanies Peter to school, where students read her stories, and she savors her favorite smell: the aroma of books. Nell's sleuthing skills--and vibrant, detail-jammed pictures from Ogilvie (Izzy Gizmo)--kick into high gear when the classroom books disappear. Following the scent of the culprit's left-behind cap, Nell leads the way through a bustling town, with the kids and their teacher in dogged pursuit, to a book-filled backyard. There, a benign-looking fellow sporting a mop of red hair and an argyle sweater vest tearfully confesses: "Stealing is wrong--but I just meant to borrow./ I was planning to give all the books back tomorrow." Nell perks up at the word "borrow," and dashes off again, leading the gang to the library, where the reformed thief gets his first library card. A lyrical and visually energized celebration of books and reading. Ages 3-6. Author's agency: Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. Illustrator's agency: NB Illustration. (May)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--Detective Dog Nell is always hot on a case--just how did that spider get into the bath, after all? Using her superpowers of smell, Nell is used to solving cases and saving the day with her human, six-year-old Peter. When she isn't on the job, the canine snoop goes to school with Peter and contentedly listens to the children reading stories aloud. But one day, Nell and Peter arrive at school only to find all the books are gone! The intrepid dog sets out to apprehend the book thief and save the day. The vibrant, rhyming narrative is paired with expressive, colorful illustrations. VERDICT A fun, engaging read-aloud choice to share with book lovers.--Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.