Hedgehog Whodunit: The Carousel Caper by Heather Preusser

It's time for a fun mystery! So, I was excited to get my hands on exactly that. Today's read is the 2nd book in a mystery series for beginning readers, who need a bit more practice before hitting tougher middle grade novels. This one centers around a hedgehog detective, which I thought was a neat twist. 

Plus, it involves a carousel...and honestly, that has me, now, wanting to find a carousel to take a ride on. It's been a long time since I've boarded one, and I've always enjoyed them. And of course, my horse has to go up and down.

Anyway, I suspect this one will be tons of fun and, hopefully, hold an entertaining mystery, too.

Ready to head into the world of animals and imagination because this one appears to pack that, too.

THE CAROUSEL CAPER

Hedgehog Whodunit, #2

by Heather Preusser

Illustrated by Gal Weizman

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Chapter Book Mystery

96 pages

ages 7 to 9

COMING...

JULY 8th!!!

It's merry-go-round mischief for Hitch the hedgehog! Hitch, a shrewd and edgy hedgehog detective, and his food-loving sidekick, Vinnie, are back with another mystery to someone's stolen the wooden cheetah from the City Zoo's carousel, and, according to Vinnie, "The longer it takes to pinpoint those pranksters who took that cheetah, the more animals they’ll likely steal, which could mean more pinching, more plundering, more pilfering! IT’LL TURN WILD AROUND HERE!”

A wild and ruckus-filled zoo is exactly what Hitch does not want, so he agrees to postpone his nap and solve the case. But that's easier said than done. From sneaky meerkats to a dramatic cabbage-eating contest, Hitch and Vinnie must navigate a series of comical and challenging events to catch the culprits and let Hitch take a nap, once and for all.

Through clever deduction, teamwork, and a few hilarious mishaps, Hitch and Vinnie manage to outwit the thieves and restore order to the carousel. Their journey is filled with witty dialogue, humorous illustrations, and engaging twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Hedgehog The Carousel Caper is a delightful and engaging chapter book that encourages young readers to solve puzzles and think critically. It's sure to inspire budding detectives and provide animal enthusiasts with endless enjoyment.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Tons of animals with personality bring silliness as an unexpected detective does his best to solve a case and, finally, gain the right to take a nap.

After solving the case in book one, Hitch (a hedgehog) is ready for some quiet time...and he doesn't see himself as a detective for the entire zoo, anyway. But with the wooden animals on the carousel disappearing one by one and bolts with nuts left behind, he realizes he won't get any peace until he figures out what's going on. Vinnie, Hitch's sidekick, is as lively as ever and is playing cowboy rat the entire time...which doesn't make interrogations with eccentric animals of the zoo any easier. As Hitch tries to collect the clues, the animals on the carousel continue to disappear, and it looks like he might not get to the bottom of things before they are completely gone.

This is book two in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. 

Hitch is a somewhat unwilling, hedgehog detective, which dresses like a detective but would rather get his nap than really leave his home and solve a case, but he's thoughtful, and it makes him easy to root for...even though it's as if he hits everything with extreme hesitation. Vinnie, his assistant and rat, is the opposite and overflows with hyper-energy. Vinnie adds complete ridiculousness to Hitch's seriousness. But it's the other animals which really bring in the quirky charm with their personalities in every extreme. It creates a fun atmosphere, where getting clues is more a problem of dealing with the individual animals, and unexpected twists hit constantly. Still, the clues are well laid out and create a solid trail, which is impossible to figure out until the end.

The writing fits nicely to the higher end of the chapter book audience and lets readers sink into unfamiliar terms and more difficult vocabulary while holding the playful and easier style. By that, I mean that the font isn't only on the larger side, but the font also changes with certain words to add emphasis and inflated emotions to keep everything fun and playful. It makes it enjoyable to read. The plot isn't extremely difficult, but rather, lets each silly scene build into the next. Some do seem to end rather abruptly, but that keeps boredom away and also fits well to the younger audience.

There are illustrations scattered throughout, which always adds a nice touch. These add to the humor and scenes to add extra punch as needed. 

This books snuggles on the border of being quirky but doesn't really cross over, and instead, sticks to animal humor with silly personalities pure. There is a wholesome message at the end, but nothing overly stated. Plus, there are some animal facts sprinkled in to add goodness on that end, too. For readers, who enjoy animals, silliness, and mystery, it's one to pick up and enjoy.

And here is more about the illustrator...

Gal Weizman was born in Jerusalem, dreaming of flying above the white stone houses of her neighborhood like Peter Pan. As she grew older and became more acquainted with the laws of gravity, she had to abandon that plan. Instead, she devised a different way to never grow up: she attended Bezalel Academy of Arts and learned to draw. Gal loves to illustrate animals and creatures, and to see her creations come to life as they experience all those often funny, at times touching, and occasionally awkward situations that inhabit the colorful world of fiction. Her illustrations are bouncing through games and TV shows, they sit on packaging and live in various children's books around the globe... and sometimes, one hides under her drawing board, waiting to be teased out into the light. They are playful creatures, so please be kind to them, she loves them all.