Children's Literature
Jan and her friend, Sarah, discover that Patch, a pet store dog they befriended until he was sold, is lost. Determined to be detectives, they start at the address on a poster with a picture of Patch. A small boy, Carl, answers the door and explains that his parents bought the dog to help ease his transition into a new town. Together, Jan, Sarah, and Carl vow to find the dog. A pit stop at a Chinese restaurant yields a clue. The children walk some more, until they hear barking at a construction site. Patch has fallen into a hole. Ever resourceful, the junior detectives find a police station, and a phone call brings a security guard who liberates the dog. Boy and dog are reunited and Carl's mother rewards Jan and Sarah. This heartwarming story shows kids acting responsibly to solve a problem and being appreciated and rewarded for their efforts. 2000, Formac, $3.99. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Julie Steinberg

School Library Journal
Gr 1-4-When Jan and Sarah notice a poster seeking the whereabouts of a puppy they had previously admired in the pet shop and unofficially named Patch, they go to the home of the animal's owner and meet the boy who lives there. New in town, Carl is upset about the loss of his puppy that he calls Spot. The friends take on the role of detective, and Carl accompanies them on their quest for the dog. After imagining that Patch has been dognapped, the girls trail a suspect, but then discover his innocence. In the end, the boy and his dog are reunited. The first noticeable oddity of this book is the strange picture on the cover-Jan looks like a 35-year-old woman with erect bilateral ponytails, a hairstyle maintained throughout the book. Sarah and Carl also look too old for their supposed ages. Intended for beginning chapter-book readers or reluctant older readers, the book has large print, a lively pace, and an engaging plot. However, the story is told in the present tense although the narrator is describing past events, creating an awkward style. The children's tenacity in finding the missing pet is admirable, but there is little evidence of deductive reasoning, as found in David Adler's "Cam Jansen" series (Viking) or Donald Sobol's "Encyclopedia Brown" books (Bantam). Also, those two series have better character development and better stylistics, making them more logical choices.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.