Bog Gone! (Finder's Creatures #1)

Gr 1-3--When most of the animals mysteriously disappear from Belly Acre Bog, amateur detective Finder and her friends track down leads and follow up on clues to finding the missing creatures. The mystery overall seems secondary, as only a few clues are actually given, but the focus on adventure and comedy certainly makes up for that; the antics of Finder's friends, Keeper and Chopper, will definitely produce some genuine laughs. A parallel side story featuring a Sherlock Holmes--type named Seymour Warts gently pokes fun at the mystery genre as a whole, as Warts's leaps in logic are questionable yet always accurate. Jones's cartoon-style designs, thick outlining, and sharp color choices make the characters stand out and make the work look overall sleek and polished. Simple word choices and chapter breakdowns also make this a strong recommendation for budding readers and detectives. VERDICT A strong start to this series.--Peter Blenski