THE MISSING HAMSTER

Beatrice Bly, super spy, uses her practiced skills to solve the mysterious disappearance of her classroom’s pet hamster.

Bea is a seasoned sleuth with specific rules about how she conducts her important work. She never reveals her spy identity (except to best friend Nora), observes and records everything, and works quietly. On the morning when Miss Leland announces that Edgar is missing from his cage, Bea begins to explore a hunch or two, discussing with Nora where Edgar might be found on school grounds. Taking note of the teachers’ special luncheon that day and recalling that Edgar loves to eat fruits and veggies, Bea undertakes a secret mission during recess, searching the halls, where she finds a specific clue that leads to a happy conclusion. Expressive cartoon artwork depicts a contemporary school setting with a diverse population—Miss Leland has brown skin, and Nora presents Asian. Beatrice is White and behaves quite boldly, with dark glasses, a listening device, and stealth poses (often depicted in multiple iterations in a spread). The linear narrative moves the intrigue along through conversations between Nora and Bea while her detective dexterity brings her closer to resolution. Piecing together the evidence will be obvious to some, but the fun will be in watching Bea perform in her chosen vocation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 50% of actual size.)

Readers will be eager to see more of this spunky, confident, daring character.