Pinkalicious: Message in a Bottle (I Can Read! Level 2: Reading With Help)

Gr 1-3--The beloved pink-loving character is back, and she has a mystery on her hands. Pinkalicious, who is white, and her best friend Molly, who is Black, have found a pink message in a pink bottle on the beach and are determined to solve the riddle and receive a prize. Donning rose-colored trench coats, the Pinktectives are on the case. Their search leads them to a local garden, the stationery store, and finally, to a rose cottage where they make new friends and are surprised by the riddle's solution. This early reader uses complex sentence structures, stretch vocabulary such as investigate and binoculars, and language play for emerging readers. The series entry will help kids hone their problem-solving skills, and the theme of friendship will resonate with them. Kann's familiar art is bright and fun. The images reinforce the text and will support those learning to decode the words. VERDICT The engaging story will delight fans of the character and newcomers alike, guaranteeing that this won't stay on shelves for long.--Shelley Diaz