Shaila Holmes Fairy Detective by Lori Keating

Happy Monday! I'm starting out the week with a mystery...fantasy...fantasy-mystery? I found the cover endearing with the mix of fairy gentleness and Sherlock Holmes readiness. I'd never even dreamed these two worlds would meet, but now, I'm sure that it will work out wonderfully. Fairies can be up to so many things, and a mystery always adds intriguing spice. 

This read is for those readers, who are sure of their words but need more practice before heading into full-fledged middle grade novels. I'm hoping that means entertaining illustrations, wide spacing, and imaginative characters and clues. So, let's put on our sleuth caps and see what this fairy is up to.

SHAILA HOLMES FAIRY DETECTIVE

by Lori Keating

Illustrated by Kyria McKie

Literary Leaf Press

Children's Mystery

122 pages

ages 6 to 10

Hi there, Junior Detective!

I'm Detective Shaila Holmes, and I need your help.

My hummingbird sidekick, Itsy, and I have five mysteries to solve, and we can't do it alone.

There's a black widow spider whose red hourglass marking has mysteriously vanished, a missing pie at the Redwood Harvest Festival, and a few more puzzling cases to tackle.

Each mystery comes with tricky clues, curious critters, and just the right sprinkle of fairy dust!

Grab your magnifying glass and your sharpest fairy senses! These mysteries may be small, but they're full of big surprises!

Together, we'll follow the clues, crack the cases, and keep Englewood Forest safe.

Solve the mystery, spread the fairy dust!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

In a lively forest, mysteries pop up and keep this adorable detective extremely busy.

Detective Shaila Holmes is a fairy and has just opened her own detective office with her hummingbird assistant, Itsy. She's placed a vibrant sign outside and hopes that someone will stop by and give her a good mystery to solve. It doesn't take long before she gets her very first case, a black widow spider whose red hourglass has disappeared. But this is only the first of five cases, each one very different from the last.

Those readers, who are very sure of their words and about to head on into the lower side of middle grade novels, will slide right into this read. The vocabulary builds word skills while the descriptions and plots are a little more complex (just slightly) than chapter books for practicing readers. I'd even recommend this for the hesitant lower end of the middle grade age group. I especially appreciate that the tale never seems overly simplified, but rather, opens up to a vibrant, animal community packed with personality. The characters are fun to meet and each one is different than the last.

There are five mysteries, each one its own separate tale....although they do mention characters from the other tales, at times. These mysteries take Shaila Holmes on very different adventures, and each time, it involves a new group of animals. From spiders to wolves, Shaila never knows who's going to knock at her door. Each ending also is a surprise to make it hard for readers to guess what is really going on. Sometimes, there is a villian. Other times, something else is at play. The clues are well laid, and Shaila keeps a notebook to mark each important thing she notices. There's also some humor to keep things light, but then, these mysteries are wholesome and very age appropriate. 

Each mystery holds a few chapters. These are only a few pages, making sure that none of the mysteries grow overly long. The illustrations bring Shaila Holmes and the other characters to life and add to the atmosphere. The entire set-up keeps each tale from growing too long, making this a lovely collection for even slightly reluctant readers.

As extra goodness, the author has worked in some animal facts. The species of each client Shaila helps is highlighted at the end of each tale with a few facts about that animal. This is sure to delight animal fans. The author also directs readers at the very end of the read to other books, where they can learn more about each of the animals. 

And here she is...

Lori Keating is an award-winning author known for her ability to create captivating stories for children of all ages and genres. When she isn’t busy writing or illustrating, she enjoys spending quality time with her amazing husband and daughter at the beach, boating, or cruising in their car with the music blasting and the sunroof open. Often, you’ll find her cozied up on the couch with a great book, fully absorbed in a world of adventure. For updates on Lori’s upcoming books, you can visit her website at www.lorikeating.com.

Peek a Boo! by Carly Montinger

Halloween is still a few weeks away, but October is already (in my end of the world) breezing by fast. Since I don't want to miss out on the fun, I snatched up today's read...and the cover shows the most adorable puppy! It also reminds me that I might need to pull out my own decorations soon...like this coming week?

Anyway, this book released last year. So, it's already on the shelves. It's part of a series about Peek with several books to mark the various holidays.

 PEEK A BOO!

by Carly Montiner

Illustrated by Kyria McKie

Starry Mill Entertainment

Picture Book    /    Holiday

ages 4 to 8

Peek the adorable puppy is back, and it’s her first Halloween! Greta and Peter are nearly ready to go to their town’s Halloween carnival when Greta has a sudden Peek doesn’t have a costume! After several attempts to dress her up, the kids finally figure out that Peek wants to be a friendly ghost!

At the carnival, Peek’s day takes an unexpected turn when she meets a lost boy named Henry, who has been separated from his parents amidst the bustling crowds. Henry, who is afraid of ghosts (and self-flushing toilets, among other things), is frightened by Peek’s disguise, but they quickly become friends. From barrel dives at the apple-bobbing booth to towering ghostly shadows, Peek and Henry navigate the carnival’s magic and mayhem as they search for Henry’s parents.

In Peek A Boo, author Carly Mottinger captures the essence of Halloween excitement, and illustrator Kyria McKie’s vivid illustrations bring Peek’s autumn adventures to life, creating a timeless Halloween tale that will have kids (and adults) reaching for it throughout the spooky season.

Get ready for a heartwarming journey filled with giggles, gasps, and ghostly fun. This is one Halloween story that will have you playing peek-a-boo with its pages long after the candy has been eaten. Happy Halloween!

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Peek might be a puppy, but she's a master at communicating her thoughts, and this skill becomes exceptionally helpful in these pages.

It's Halloween, and Peek needs a costume. Her human family does their best to find a fitting costume for her, and after a few attempts, finally realizes that she already has an idea of her own. With a fitting costume, she joins the family on a trip to the carnival, where there are all sorts of things to do, see, and enjoy. When she runs into a crying boy who has gotten separated from his parents, Peek realizes that she's already seen them looking for him. Luckily, she's great at helping others out.

This is a cute, Halloween read, and not only because Peek is adorable. Listeners will have no problem connecting with Peek as she can't wait to go to the carnival and does her best to find a fitting costume. Her excitement beams from the page and becomes even more grabbing when the details of the carnival appear. The excitement will have listeners wishing they could join Peek themselves. When she meets Henry, the adventure begins with a nice touch of fun and forming friendship.

The text makes a nice, story-time read-aloud. The illustrations allow listeners to sink into each scene, while the tale adds the heart and adventure. There are a few 'tougher' vocabulary words slid in to help those word building skills without growing too heavy. The tale moves right along add keeps the fun of the carnival clear even during the search for the boy's parents. Everything ends on a wholesome note and will most likely have listeners using the word 'again'.

And here she is...

Carly Mottinger, an award-winning and best-selling author, has a diverse background in writing and film. Born and raised in Northern California, Carly honed her craft at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and earned her MFA. After graduating, she worked as a staff writer for Nickelodeon and sold her first children's book (Lights, Camera, Lexi!) to Disney Junior. Since then, Carly has become known for her imaginative and captivating storytelling. She has several acclaimed releases under her belt, such as Go to Bed Fred, How to Make a Monster Disappear, Gigi, MAD, Peek the Puppy, and Great. Carly's unique voice and fresh perspective have made her a rising star in children's literature. She currently resides in the Bay Area with her husband and four daughters 

https://carlymottinger.com/