The Mystery of the Love List

A good choice for budding mystery enthusiasts as well as a Valentine's Day read-aloud.

PreS-Gr 2--Mystery-loving Pippa the porcupine has a problem: Valentine's Day is coming and her whole class is working on their "love lists" of "things that take up room in your heart." Pippa, who would rather read the latest "Sherlock Gnomes" mystery novel than make a list, sadly doesn't have a best friend to share things with. She soon learns, however, that a mysterious classmate has added Pippa to a love list and wants to be her friend. How can she figure out who it is? Using a variety of clues, Pippa sets about solving the mystery of the new best friend, who turns out to be quiet, shy, easily overlooked Mitzi the Mouse. Charming illustrations include several visual clues (such as Mitzi reading the same book Pippa loves) and the text includes a few silly puns (a game of "Deer, Deer, Moose" rather than "Duck, Duck, Goose") that are perfect for young readers. Though the opening line, "When you're the only porcupine in your class you stand out" doesn't lead anywhere--there is only one of each type of animal represented--this is a sweet Valentine's Day story with a mystery twist. VERDICT A fine addition to holiday story collections for young readers.--Sue Morgan

During a Valentine's Day art assignment, lonely, mystery-loving Pippa, the only porcupine in her animalian class, finds herself following clues to discover a secret admirer in this sprightly friendship tale. Pippa is not enthused when Mr. Tod tasks everyone with making a "love list": "a list of things that take up room in your heart." But when another classmate's love list gets tangled in her quills, and Pippa's name is among its entries, she learns that "somewhere in these halls, she has a best-friend-in-waiting!" Her humorous sleuthing methods don't deliver great results--until she looks at the photos she's taken and finally sees what observant readers will have known all along. Marsh weaves sweet and silly notes into a mini mystery with a happy reveal. Debut illustrator Lobo also has an eye for fun, serving up a welcoming forest school and a menagerie of friendly-looking pupils; Pippa's flowing quills and stylish "Beastly Boys" band T-shirt are among the memorable details. Ages 3-7. (Dec.)

The book offers a refreshing definition of Valentine's Day as a celebration of the tenderness we feel towards our friends and passions, and young readers will delight in identifying the visual clues that lead to Pippa's best-friend-in-waiting before she discovers them herself. -BCCB