The Case of the Missing Tarts (Pigeon Private Detectives #1)

by Christee Curran-Bauer (Author)

The Case of the Missing Tarts (Pigeon Private Detectives #1)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The Pigeon Detectives are looking forward to devouring a delectable platter of jam tarts--until the tasty treats are stolen from right under their beaks!

With tummies grumbling, the PPD are on the hunt for clues, but can the detectives recover the tarts in time before they are all eaten--or worse--stale? As the list of suspects grows longer, our heroes wonder if they'll ever catch the thief jam-handed.

Pigeon Private Detectives: The Case of the Missing Tarts, Christee Curran-Bauer's author-illustrator debut, pokes fun at detective procedurals with kid-friendly humor!

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Kirkus

An enjoyable homage to the dramatic mystery.

Publishers Weekly

In this humorous illustrated solo debut, Curran-Bauer introduces three birds of a feather who detect together: Martin P. Sweets, Felix Danish, and Ralph Custard, the Pigeon Private Detectives. When someone steals Mama Pigeon's famous jam tarts--made with love and one supersecret ingredient--the detectives resolve to find the pastries before they are eaten, or worse, become stale. But the detectives are stumped when following a trail of crumbs leads to a dead end, and attempts to lure suspects into confessing using Mama Pigeon's cookies fail. It's only after Detective Sweets divulges the jam tarts' secret ingredient that the dessert-napper reveals himself (by getting noisily sick into a bucket). Desperate to become a baker and star in a cooking show, the perpetrator had the half-baked idea to steal the tarts for research purposes but is soon forced to confront the consequences of his actions--and is offered a second chance. Vibrant colored pencil and rounded shapes render playful images of mouthwatering treats and avian protagonists sporting deerstalker caps. Readers will flock to Curran-Bauer's lighthearted mystery. A glossary defining detective terms and a fact sheet conclude. Ages 6-9. (Aug.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"[W]ith a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor and plenty of puns. The narrative, told through a mix of comic book-style panels and prose, is brought to life with crisp-lined cartoons with mostly pastel tones and a bit of film noir thrown in when the mood is right. An enjoyable homage to the dramatic mystery." —Kirkus Reviews

"[D]elightful comic-book-style drawings and kid-friendly humor." —Daily Mom
Christee Curran-Bauer
Christee Curran-Bauer has a BFA from Pratt Institute in communications design/illustration, and is a proud member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Curran-Bauer is a Jersey girl currently living in Maryland with her family and spoiled French bulldog. She invites you to visit her at christeewithadoublee.blogspot.com and on Twitter at @ChristeeDoubleE.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781454943617
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Union Square Kids
Publication date
August 29, 2023
Series
Pigeon Private Detectives
BISAC categories
JUV002040 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Birds
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Library of Congress categories
Pigeons
Mystery and detective stories
Detective and mystery fiction
JUVENILE FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stor
JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
Pies

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