Review by e-tasana-williams -- Serendipity Mystery: Diar...

[e-tasana-williams]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat" by R.F. Kristi.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Imagine a beautiful little cat on a week-long family vacation in sunny Sri Lanka. Then imagine that cat solving a mystery of national importance while she is there. What would that look like? Who would be involved? Those are the things R.F. Kristi explores in her fun book Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat. This is installment number seven in the Inca Book Series.

One sunny June morning, Inca the Siberian cat finds herself stretching on the warm golden sands of a beach in Galle, Sri Lanka. Her luxurious vacation turns into a mystery when an antique sword goes missing from a national museum. While trying to solve the mystery of the stolen sword, Inca and her friends run into some adventures of their own.

This imaginative children's book is told from the first person perspective. It is a collection of diary entries written by Inca, the snoopy character from the title. This gives children an idea of what the world could look like through the eyes of a gray Siberian cat who runs her own detective agency. Inca & Company is comprised of Inca, her two siblings, a hamster and two dogs. They are famous in England and France for their sleuthing skills.

The author worked for the United Nations Children's Fund, and her zeal for educating children shines through the tale. She packs the book with interesting facts about different countries and customs, from the French love of gourmet food to the tea plantations of Sri Lanka. Ms. Kristi also uses the book to educate children about Sri Lanka's animal population. Elephants, turtles, buffalo, monkeys, leopards, and other animals figure into the plot.

The humor included in the story is my favorite aspect of the book. Younger children may not grasp it, but older children and adults will appreciate the subtle funny comments and observations made by Inca as she writes in her diary. Inca thinks very highly of herself and that shows through her diary entries. There was nothing about the book I did not like. As a side note, the book appears to have been professionally edited.

Ms. Kristi does a good job of including life lessons in the tale. The virtues of friendship, open-mindedness, courage and teamwork are all woven through the adventure Inca & Friends experience as they try to solve the case of the missing sword.

Children up to age 10 may enjoy reading Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat and learning about Sri Lanka. The vivid illustrations are perfect for engaging preschool children who have the book read to them. Although it is part of a series, the book stands alone. The family tree and cast of characters included at the beginning of the book are helpful for those unfamiliar with the other books in the collection.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The educational value, the engaging illustrations and the entertaining storyline come together to make Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat a book children and adults will enjoy.

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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
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