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

[juliamenez]

[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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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat is a children’s book starring a detective cat named Inca, and her family. Inca, her “mom” (owner), and siblings visit Sri Lanka on vacation, only to realize that a treasured sword is missing from the museum. Inca teams up with turtles, elephants, dogs, and cats to solve the mystery of the stolen sword before it disappears from Sri Lanka forever.

This is an excellent children’s book. I especially recommend it for children 7-12 years old, based on the complexity of the story and writing. However, younger children will enjoy their parents or teachers reading this book to them. Even though this is a mystery story, there are no scary parts that will make younger children uncomfortable or that will cause nightmares.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it takes place in Sri Lanka, which is an unfamiliar country to most children. Setting the story in a foreign yet non-fictional part of the world is a fantastic way to spark wanderlust, and open up educational conversations about geography and different cultures. The book also has references to other places, including London and France. Additionally, the author incorporates many different types of animals as characters, which sends a positive message about making friends outside of your immediate social circle.

Aesthetically, the book is very well-done. The illustrations in the book are bright and colorful. Additionally, the beautiful pictures help to enhance the story and are easy to interpret, both for children and adults. Since this is the seventh book in the series, the background information on the characters at the beginning of the book was helpful. The diary-style format that the author uses is also a great way to encourage kids to write a journal and record their observations and feelings.

This is the first children’s book I have read in a while, and I was a little afraid it might be boring. Thankfully, this was not the case at all. This story is an interesting read and has a good pace that alternates between educational facts and a fun mystery. I would give this book 4 out of 4 stars. There was not anything that I did not like about this book. The story is fun and appropriate for the intended audience, and the book is very well-edited. I recommend this book to teachers, children, and families who love animals, travel, and different cultures.

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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
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