THE CASE OF THE FIDGETY FOX

Once again, Rylant and Karas (The Case of the Sleepy Sloth, 2002, etc.) demonstrate why they are a cut above the rest when it comes to beginning readers: their verbal and visual sophistication is ever so easy and pleasurable. In their sixth adventure, the high-rise private eyes, Bunny (a bunny) and Jack (a raccoon), are on the track of an errant pair of fuzzy dice—lucky fuzzy dice that the bus driver must have hanging from his mirror or he won’t operate the bus. Of course, things are never so simple with these two, who start the proceedings by excising the calm Bunny is enjoying after a yoga session. Which also helps establish a running joke—the importance of potato chips in maintaining one’s emotional equilibrium—they will enjoy throughout the story, as well as introducing their cracked sense of humor. Rylant is not above some verbal tomfoolery—“ ‘Oops, did I scare you?’ Jack called. Bunny gave him a look. ‘I must have,’ said Jack. ‘You’re all white.’ ‘Jack, I’m always all white,’ said Bunny. ‘Oh, all white. Whatever you say,’ said Jack”—and Karas is ready to ramp up the imagery, like the smile on Jack’s face when he’s trying to soothe a ruffled, and very large, bulldog. The perp turns out to have made the kind of mistake any kid might. He learns what he has to do to rectify the situation: “Just tell Melvin you’re sorry, okay?” The kind of simple, respectful advice that builds character 12 different ways and entertainment while instructing that’s elevated to a particularly high order. (Easy reader. 4-8)