Review of Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula
Posted: 03 Jun 2022, 12:07
[Following is a volunteer review of "Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula" by R.F. Kristi.]
In her insouciant children's book, Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, R.F. Kristi tells of the adventures of Siberian cat detective, Inca, who calls herself the "Queen of Kitties." Though this book is number eight in Kristi's The Inca Cat Series, it is a delightful stand-alone read.
The world-famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school invites Inca's humanoid Mom to judge a patisserie contest at Peace House in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Inca and all her furry friends travel with Mom to see the sights and lend support to Mom, who will introduce her newly created cheese in Seoul. Inca discovers that the family hosting them in South Korea is sad because they have two family members (one humanoid, one feline) stuck living in North Korea, and they are not allowed to return home. Inca and her friends are determined to solve the problem.
There are so many reasons why I loved this book. The story is sophisticated for a children's book, introducing the situation between North and South Korea, the DMZ, and the idea that freedom doesn't exist in some parts of the world. But the story is told simply through the eyes of Inca, who has a fully-developed personality and is quite a competent detective. She makes the most of being a cat and knows how to take advantage of the fact.
The author doesn't talk down to children but instead expresses her story in a rather matter-of-fact way that assumes the young reader can understand. Young readers can share Inca's determination and hope for a positive outcome.
The illustrations in this book, by Jorge Valle, are worth mentioning. They are not only cute and colorful; they are a satisfying suggestion of how the characters might look. Each picture is consistent and has just the right amount of detail.
I'm giving Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula four out of four stars. There was nothing I disliked about this book. I would love to read the rest of the series. Though I did find some errors in the text, there are not enough to deduct a star from my rating.
My recommendations for this book vary depending on the age of the child. For readers up to age 7 or 8, I suggest someone read the book to them or that an older person read with them because the book has a challenging vocabulary. Words such as demilitarized, agog, sojourn, venue, and some foreign language terms may need defining. Older children can probably read the book independently, though it is likely they will also need to get some of these words defined.
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Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In her insouciant children's book, Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula, R.F. Kristi tells of the adventures of Siberian cat detective, Inca, who calls herself the "Queen of Kitties." Though this book is number eight in Kristi's The Inca Cat Series, it is a delightful stand-alone read.
The world-famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school invites Inca's humanoid Mom to judge a patisserie contest at Peace House in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Inca and all her furry friends travel with Mom to see the sights and lend support to Mom, who will introduce her newly created cheese in Seoul. Inca discovers that the family hosting them in South Korea is sad because they have two family members (one humanoid, one feline) stuck living in North Korea, and they are not allowed to return home. Inca and her friends are determined to solve the problem.
There are so many reasons why I loved this book. The story is sophisticated for a children's book, introducing the situation between North and South Korea, the DMZ, and the idea that freedom doesn't exist in some parts of the world. But the story is told simply through the eyes of Inca, who has a fully-developed personality and is quite a competent detective. She makes the most of being a cat and knows how to take advantage of the fact.
The author doesn't talk down to children but instead expresses her story in a rather matter-of-fact way that assumes the young reader can understand. Young readers can share Inca's determination and hope for a positive outcome.
The illustrations in this book, by Jorge Valle, are worth mentioning. They are not only cute and colorful; they are a satisfying suggestion of how the characters might look. Each picture is consistent and has just the right amount of detail.
I'm giving Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula four out of four stars. There was nothing I disliked about this book. I would love to read the rest of the series. Though I did find some errors in the text, there are not enough to deduct a star from my rating.
My recommendations for this book vary depending on the age of the child. For readers up to age 7 or 8, I suggest someone read the book to them or that an older person read with them because the book has a challenging vocabulary. Words such as demilitarized, agog, sojourn, venue, and some foreign language terms may need defining. Older children can probably read the book independently, though it is likely they will also need to get some of these words defined.
******
Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon