Review by tjportugal -- Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a ...

[tjportugal]

[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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Yet again, Inca, a Siberian detective cat, and his detective company (Inca & Company) travel to a foreign country where they have another adventure. After arriving in Sri Lanka, they learn that a precious sword has been stolen from the Colombo Museum. Apparently, two men dressed as police officers managed to neutralize the security guard at the museum. Will Inca and his friends be able to solve the mystery of the identity of the thieves? Will the Company be able to find the stolen sword and return it to the museum?

Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat, by R. F. Kristi, is a contemporary fable that follows a group of friendly pets in their adventure in Sri Lanka. The plot includes action and peace, courage and friendship. It is also not without a touch of thrill.

Through a friendly plot, the author approaches enriching topics such as the sense of family bond and teamwork. As expected, the narrative is rich in features of Sri Lanka, such as indigenous animals, which is a major positive aspect. This element of an exotic culture is uncommon in international children’s literature, rendering the book all the more interesting. Not only does it contain exotic cultural elements but it also presents children with the concept of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

As for the structure, this book is professionally edited. Apart from a subheading that did not follow the pattern of all the subheadings in this book, I did not find any errors. The range of vocabulary diversity is adequate for children. Moreover, there are explicit onomatopoeias and other funny words that children will be delighted with, like “HUUUGE elephants”. This was the element that I liked most, as it combines attractive rhetoric with a strong stimulus, promoting a robust children’s vocabulary and linguistic development.

Another major positive element of this book is the fact that it is structured as a diary. This promotes daily reading habits for kids or parents reading to their children, as each chapter corresponds to a day, for a total of 8 days plus introduction.

Jorge Valle’s illustrations give this book the final touch of excellence. They are colorful and simple, and come every couple of pages. They aid children’s imaginary skills, especially when it comes to culture-specific elements like the stolen sword.

In conclusion, Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat, by R. F. Kristi, is an exciting children’s story. There was nothing I disliked in this book. I rate it 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.

Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat seems to be more appealing to children aged 4 to 10. Moreover, considering that it is part of The Inca Cat Detective Series, it can be a very good way to start kids’ personal libraries and help them engage with literature and reading habits.

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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
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[NDeMeer]

This looks like such a cute little story. I love the idea of writing it in diary-style, with a section for every day! Thank you for this insightful review!

[tjportugal]

This looks like such a cute little story. I love the idea of writing it in diary-style, with a section for every day! Thank you for this insightful review!

Hi @NDeMeer
This is a lovely story. I think kids will enjoy it. The diary-structure is indeed a major plus.
Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment.

[Diana Lowery]

Great Review. I see that you also reviewed another book in this series. Did you have a favorite?

[tjportugal]

Great Review. I see that you also reviewed another book in this series. Did you have a favorite?

Hi
Yes, I did review "Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula". I have to say that I preferred the Korean book. I found the exotic cultural elements more attractive.
Thank you for your comment.

[Honest-reviewer]

I’ve read one of the books of this series and I liked it. So I think I might like this as well. Thanks for your wonderful review!

[tjportugal]

I’ve read one of the books of this series and I liked it. So I think I might like this as well. Thanks for your wonderful review!

Hi
I liked reading a second book in this series. I liked to see how the writing style was the same although the story changed.
Thank you for your comment.