Review by Slater678 -- Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a S...
Posted: 21 Jun 2020, 10:42
[Following is a volunteer review of "Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat" by R.F. Kristi.]
In Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R. F. Kristi, the Inca & Company crew are on their first holiday in Sri Lanka, a warm island with beautiful beaches located in Southeast Asia. Inca, their leader, is overjoyed because she feels it’s an opportunity for the crew’s fame to spread outside England and France. She and her team—Fromage, Cara, Charlotte, and Terrance—therefore, waste no time in making new friends on the island, the likes of Rani, a turtle, and Meena, a baby elephant. Talking to her new friends, she can’t help realizing they could be recruits to her detective company.
Kristi’s book teaches kids about the different animals found around the world: Inca and her twin sister, Cara, for example, are cats originally from Siberia, but like the rest of the others, have adopted French culture. All the same, they all live in Kensington, London, with their owner, Mom. Mom also owns Charlotte, a hamster, and through her detective friend, Solo, a detective dog named Terrance. Now that they are in Sri Lanka, they all get to know more about turtles and elephants, like the food these animals eat and the role they play in society.
In an animated tone, Kristi speaks to kids’ hearts by narrating things they love most and can identify with. I remember, when I was a kid and my family was on holiday, I used to love walking and playing along the warm, sandy beaches while munching on ice cream and indulging in tasty food. I was also preoccupied with looking for new friends and learning new experiences. Kristi uses this basis to build on her story and even going further by adding other learning opportunities open to kids, such as a visit to the game park or a historical site.
The book is beautifully illustrated with vibrant colors, which captures kids’ interest. As a perfect introduction to crime fiction, the underlying theme of looking for clues and solving mysteries is emphasized and will teach kids to be vigilant about the happenings around them. Related to this, the importance of mentorship is highlighted, where we find Inca and Terrance aspiring to be great detectives like Solo, who is a well-known international detective.
To finish, I enjoyed reading this book, as it has a lot of positive attributes. The editing is well done, and I think the story is perfect to be read aloud as a family. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to readers in the middle-grade and below. Those who are disturbed by the stereotypical portrayal of anything black or dark as negative may want to stay clear of the book.
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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R. F. Kristi, the Inca & Company crew are on their first holiday in Sri Lanka, a warm island with beautiful beaches located in Southeast Asia. Inca, their leader, is overjoyed because she feels it’s an opportunity for the crew’s fame to spread outside England and France. She and her team—Fromage, Cara, Charlotte, and Terrance—therefore, waste no time in making new friends on the island, the likes of Rani, a turtle, and Meena, a baby elephant. Talking to her new friends, she can’t help realizing they could be recruits to her detective company.
Kristi’s book teaches kids about the different animals found around the world: Inca and her twin sister, Cara, for example, are cats originally from Siberia, but like the rest of the others, have adopted French culture. All the same, they all live in Kensington, London, with their owner, Mom. Mom also owns Charlotte, a hamster, and through her detective friend, Solo, a detective dog named Terrance. Now that they are in Sri Lanka, they all get to know more about turtles and elephants, like the food these animals eat and the role they play in society.
In an animated tone, Kristi speaks to kids’ hearts by narrating things they love most and can identify with. I remember, when I was a kid and my family was on holiday, I used to love walking and playing along the warm, sandy beaches while munching on ice cream and indulging in tasty food. I was also preoccupied with looking for new friends and learning new experiences. Kristi uses this basis to build on her story and even going further by adding other learning opportunities open to kids, such as a visit to the game park or a historical site.
The book is beautifully illustrated with vibrant colors, which captures kids’ interest. As a perfect introduction to crime fiction, the underlying theme of looking for clues and solving mysteries is emphasized and will teach kids to be vigilant about the happenings around them. Related to this, the importance of mentorship is highlighted, where we find Inca and Terrance aspiring to be great detectives like Solo, who is a well-known international detective.
To finish, I enjoyed reading this book, as it has a lot of positive attributes. The editing is well done, and I think the story is perfect to be read aloud as a family. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to readers in the middle-grade and below. Those who are disturbed by the stereotypical portrayal of anything black or dark as negative may want to stay clear of the book.
******
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
