Review by tjportugal -- Cat Detectives in the Korean Pen...
Posted: 30 Jun 2020, 08:35
[Following is a volunteer review of "Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula" by R.F. Kristi.]
Inca, a Siberian detective cat, heads a detective company called Inca & Company, composed of cats, dogs and a hamster. Together, they travel to South Korea with their human carer, Mom, who is going to be part of a judging panel for a French patisserie competition aimed at promoting peace between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula. Not only is Mom going to be a judge in the competition but also she is going to present her creamy and yummy cheese to the public. Upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, near Seoul, Enzo, a nasty French chef, decided to steal Mom’s cheese. Having been disturbed by her precious loss, how could Mom keep thinking straight to judge? How would this theft affect the promotion of peace between both Koreas? Inca & Company had to start acting fast!
Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, by R.F. Kristi, is a modern-day fable that follows a group of friendly animals in their adventures in the Korean Peninsula. The engaging plot is filled with action and peace, friendship and team-work. It is also not without a touch of thrill. Throughout the narrative, there is an underlying sense of reconciliation and peace, as Inca & Company is formed by dogs, cats and a hamster, coming from Russia, France, China and England, and heading to the Koreas. Besides the underlying message of reconciliation, the book also promotes the respect and love for animals. And this element fits perfectly the dream that every child has of having an animal pet. As expected, the narrative is rich in features of the Korean Peninsula. This is a major positive element in as much as it is uncommon in international children’s literature. Some of the Korean characters’ names, however, were rather confusing; this was the element that I liked the least.
As for the structure, this book is professionally edited. There are no typos or grammar mistakes to be found. The range of vocabulary diversity is adequate to children and, at the same time, so broad that it includes a couple of foreign words in Spanish, French and Korean. Moreover, there are some funny words that children will be delighted with, like “purrrfect”; this was my favorite element. The sentences are well structured, and the narrative develops at a very good pace, resulting in an excellent linguistic quality. As expected, there are no profanity or erotic elements, apart from mentioning that a man had a crush on Mom.
The illustrations, by Jorge Valle, are perfectly suitable for this book. They are simple and colorful, and are shown every couple of pages, aiding children’s imaginary skills, especially when it comes to elements of the Korean culture (like traditional architecture).
In conclusion, Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, by R.F. Kristi, is a very good children’s story. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This rating reflects my appreciation for the content and the way it was structured to deliver this excellent work of literature.
Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula seems to be more appealing to children aged 6 to 10. Moreover, considering that it is part of The Inca Cat Detective Series, it can be an interesting way to start kids’ personal libraries and motivate them to read and engage with literature.
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Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Inca, a Siberian detective cat, heads a detective company called Inca & Company, composed of cats, dogs and a hamster. Together, they travel to South Korea with their human carer, Mom, who is going to be part of a judging panel for a French patisserie competition aimed at promoting peace between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula. Not only is Mom going to be a judge in the competition but also she is going to present her creamy and yummy cheese to the public. Upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, near Seoul, Enzo, a nasty French chef, decided to steal Mom’s cheese. Having been disturbed by her precious loss, how could Mom keep thinking straight to judge? How would this theft affect the promotion of peace between both Koreas? Inca & Company had to start acting fast!
Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, by R.F. Kristi, is a modern-day fable that follows a group of friendly animals in their adventures in the Korean Peninsula. The engaging plot is filled with action and peace, friendship and team-work. It is also not without a touch of thrill. Throughout the narrative, there is an underlying sense of reconciliation and peace, as Inca & Company is formed by dogs, cats and a hamster, coming from Russia, France, China and England, and heading to the Koreas. Besides the underlying message of reconciliation, the book also promotes the respect and love for animals. And this element fits perfectly the dream that every child has of having an animal pet. As expected, the narrative is rich in features of the Korean Peninsula. This is a major positive element in as much as it is uncommon in international children’s literature. Some of the Korean characters’ names, however, were rather confusing; this was the element that I liked the least.
As for the structure, this book is professionally edited. There are no typos or grammar mistakes to be found. The range of vocabulary diversity is adequate to children and, at the same time, so broad that it includes a couple of foreign words in Spanish, French and Korean. Moreover, there are some funny words that children will be delighted with, like “purrrfect”; this was my favorite element. The sentences are well structured, and the narrative develops at a very good pace, resulting in an excellent linguistic quality. As expected, there are no profanity or erotic elements, apart from mentioning that a man had a crush on Mom.
The illustrations, by Jorge Valle, are perfectly suitable for this book. They are simple and colorful, and are shown every couple of pages, aiding children’s imaginary skills, especially when it comes to elements of the Korean culture (like traditional architecture).
In conclusion, Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, by R.F. Kristi, is a very good children’s story. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This rating reflects my appreciation for the content and the way it was structured to deliver this excellent work of literature.
Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula seems to be more appealing to children aged 6 to 10. Moreover, considering that it is part of The Inca Cat Detective Series, it can be an interesting way to start kids’ personal libraries and motivate them to read and engage with literature.
******
Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon