Review by csswan -- Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoo...
Posted: 25 Aug 2018, 13:50
[Following is a volunteer review of "Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat" by R.F. Kristi.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Concerning children’s literature, R.F Kristi has done it right with the book Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat. Inca, a “Siberian Detective Cat”, is the protagonist of the story. Joined by the rest of Inca & Company—the cats Fromage, Cara, and Monk; a hamster, Charlotte; and a dog, Terrance—Inca goes on a vacation that soon becomes more when a sword is stolen from a museum. Using their resources and detective skills, Inca and her team join to solve a mystery.
Written in a typical diary format, we see Inca’s perspective on the events as they unfold. Themes of teamwork, friendship, and family are covered as the team tries to piece together the puzzle. These themes are ones that children can easily relate to, and it was nice to see how animals were used to explore them. Kristi also uses engaging language while ensuring it is at an appropriate comprehension level for younger readers. While I may not be part of the target demographic, I found that the writing was enough to keep me interested. Kristi also integrates language a child might use, such as “super-duper”, throughout the book. There was also adequate explanation of concepts that may be a bit beyond a reader’s understanding.
I also noticed that several times throughout, there were bullet lists of questions that Inca was asking herself. This was exciting to read, because it really helps to engage the reader. What was going to happen? Kristi presents some options, and the reader gets to predict what they think. It makes for an overall interactive reading experience. While I liked what Kristi wrote, I think I would have preferred more of these instances.
I must commend Jorge Valle on his illustrations. The characters are all simple and adorable, and sillier illustrations are included, such as one of Inca with a mermaid’s tail. These illustrations helped bring the book to life. For me, the illustrations made the story.
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cay was an exciting read and is great for children. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book for any young reader that is interested in mysteries. I also can see it as a good book for a parent to read with a child, as it can spark a discussion around the questions that Kristi poses throughout. I also feel an adult could enjoy it, but only if they had a proclivity for children’s literature. Otherwise, I would not recommend it, as it is written with children in mind.
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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like csswan's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Concerning children’s literature, R.F Kristi has done it right with the book Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat. Inca, a “Siberian Detective Cat”, is the protagonist of the story. Joined by the rest of Inca & Company—the cats Fromage, Cara, and Monk; a hamster, Charlotte; and a dog, Terrance—Inca goes on a vacation that soon becomes more when a sword is stolen from a museum. Using their resources and detective skills, Inca and her team join to solve a mystery.
Written in a typical diary format, we see Inca’s perspective on the events as they unfold. Themes of teamwork, friendship, and family are covered as the team tries to piece together the puzzle. These themes are ones that children can easily relate to, and it was nice to see how animals were used to explore them. Kristi also uses engaging language while ensuring it is at an appropriate comprehension level for younger readers. While I may not be part of the target demographic, I found that the writing was enough to keep me interested. Kristi also integrates language a child might use, such as “super-duper”, throughout the book. There was also adequate explanation of concepts that may be a bit beyond a reader’s understanding.
I also noticed that several times throughout, there were bullet lists of questions that Inca was asking herself. This was exciting to read, because it really helps to engage the reader. What was going to happen? Kristi presents some options, and the reader gets to predict what they think. It makes for an overall interactive reading experience. While I liked what Kristi wrote, I think I would have preferred more of these instances.
I must commend Jorge Valle on his illustrations. The characters are all simple and adorable, and sillier illustrations are included, such as one of Inca with a mermaid’s tail. These illustrations helped bring the book to life. For me, the illustrations made the story.
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cay was an exciting read and is great for children. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book for any young reader that is interested in mysteries. I also can see it as a good book for a parent to read with a child, as it can spark a discussion around the questions that Kristi poses throughout. I also feel an adult could enjoy it, but only if they had a proclivity for children’s literature. Otherwise, I would not recommend it, as it is written with children in mind.
******
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like csswan's review? Post a comment saying so!