'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Review: The Great Garden Mystery

Somebody is stealing the beetroots from the vegetable garden, but this time it's not Peter Rabbit! In fact, it's a very Australian collection of animals who gather round to examine the clues and solve the crime.

The hare is relieved to be able to clear his name. Poo from a hare is round, but the culprit's is square. The guilty party has only left a small hole under the fence, which rules out the horse (too big), and the cockatoo (why dig a hole when you can fly?).

And so they continue, narrowing down the suspects until they're all left looking at the kangaroo. But is she really guilty or have our sleuths overlooked one crucial fact? (For the amateur detectives among you, this review should be enough for you to work out who the thief is!)

I loved Renée Treml's detailed line drawings set against simple colour wash backgrounds. The rhyming text gently unravels the story, while the big reveal at the end taught me something about Australia's native animals too!

Title: The Great Garden Mystery
Author/Illustrator: Renée Treml
Publisher: Random House Australia, $19.99 RRP
Publication Date: September 2014
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780857984166
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book