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From Horn Book

July 1, 2024
When Parkville's prized Golden Chew Bone goes missing, the town's quirky enclave of animal residents is sent into a tailspin. Sweet Pea, a blue-gray dog with a strong sense of smell, reluctantly accepts the case; after all, "without the Golden Chew Bone, there will be cavities!" More artist, herbalist, and local historian than detective, Sweet Pea enlists several friends to scour the town for clues and culprits. A side story regarding the past triumphs and tribulations of Sweet Pea's great-aunt (depicted in old-timey sepia) provides inspiration for tackling the present-day mystery. Suspicious behaviors, mild grudges, and biases (e.g., diurnal versus nocturnal animals) all serve as effective red herrings, leading to a satisfyingly zany conclusion. The chunky ink lines, vibrant colors, helpful emanata (motion lines, arrows, teardrops, sound effects, etc.), and organic dialogue of Varon's signature cartooning all contribute to a pleasurable, seamless reading experience. The mostly three-tiered, horizontal-panel layouts result in a swiftly paced story; while periodic single- and double-page splashes are chock-full of detail, regularly punctuating key dramatic moments. A clever, fourth wall-breaking coda features a cartoon Varon introducing readers to the real-life pets that inspired the story's characters (photographs included). The final pages of the book present Sweet Pea with several new mysteries to solve, to which the newly crowned detective of Parkville responds with an enthusiastic, "Let's go!" Patrick Gall

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From School Library Journal

July 1, 2024

Gr 2-5-Parkville's ready to celebrate their precious famous attraction, the Golden Chew Bone, when misfortune strikes and the bone is stolen! For a close community like this, the resulting bad breath and toothaches makes it a pretty concerning crime. In order to rectify this, the museum director enlists the all-around friendly, and trash-loving dog, Sweet Pea. Even with her super sniffer though, the trail runs cold at several points. It's her first case, but thanks to friends and historic inspiration, she has just what she needs to solve it. While this graphic novel presents itself in a genuine manner where the animals speak earnestly, the cartoonish style and silly situations injects a comedic note into the proceedings. Further adding to the family-friendly appeal is a cooperative tone that eases readers into accepting the wholesome messages and ending. While Sweet Pea learns the ropes, the story also acts as a gateway into the mystery genre. Before the theft even occurs, a tour clearly establishes all the potential suspects, Sweet Pea's skills, and the locked box scenario. The author points out motivations, clues, and methods for overcoming hurdles that may prompt kids to come up with their own theories. With a whole community of friends to follow and colored notes that literally point out additional information, readers will have lots to chew on. VERDICT A sweet and silly mystery comic for kids just dipping their toes into the genre.-Rachel Forbes

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Booklist

May 15, 2024
Grades 1-4 Varon's signature peanut-shaped animal characters make for delightful detectives in this series opener about an artistic dog with a nose for clues. In Parkville, all the animals--especially the dogs--are eager for the return of the Golden Chew Bone, which everyone gnaws on to keep their teeth healthy. Only, at the grand celebration, the bone is missing, and soon all the dogs are in dental distress! Sweet Pea, with her superior sniffer, is asked to investigate, and she sets out to solve the case with the help of some new friends. Varon's animal characters have cheery personalities while still engaging in classic beastly behaviors--Sweet Pea can't resist rolling in stinky muck; the squirrels flee from the dogs; and the racoons aggressively dig through trash cans--and her mystery is nicely paced for the target age group, who will be able to follow along with Sweet Pea's deductive reasoning. Comical scenarios, playful artwork, and fun characters make this early reader comic a real treat, and the promise of more cases is icing on the cake.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Kirkus

April 15, 2024
When the Golden Chew Bone mysteriously goes missing, Sweet Pea the dog is on the case. Sweet Pea resides in the town of Parkville, where several animal species live harmoniously... mostly. She enjoys painting, eating out of the garbage, and learning about her family history. She's never solved a mystery before, but when the Golden Chew Bone disappears before the Parkville Art Museum's celebration of its return (the bone had been on loan to another museum), Sweet Pea is asked to use her strong sniffing abilities to find it. Dogs regularly visit the museum to chew on the bone; it keeps their teeth clean but somehow never gets any smaller. Dental problems among Parkville dogs are now on the rise, but with the help of newcomers Jelly and Casper and insight from her great-aunt Petunia's stories, Sweet Pea gets to work. These characters and this town feel bursting with more stories to tell; readers will be grateful that this charming and smartly crafted mystery is just the start of a new series. Varon's cute, brightly colored, bold-lined, and immediately recognizable art style is inviting and appealing, while chapter breaks make the story accessible and contribute to the narrative's momentum. While the mystery is delightful, this story goes deeper thematically--which is made clear when Sweet Pea exclaims, "Everyone has a different perspective based on their own experiences." Sniffing around for an adorable, exciting, and thoughtful tale? This doggy detective delivers. (information on Varon's character inspiration) (Graphic mystery. 7-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Publisher's Weekly

March 18, 2024
Blue-hued pooch Sweet Pea lives a carefree life in Parkville, where all species coexist peacefully. There, she indulges in her passions of creating art, spending time with friends, and dumpster-diving for hidden treasures. The arrival of canine newcomers Casper and Jelly sparks renewed excitement for Sweet Pea, especially since they're fellow art lovers; the newly-minted trio is excited to see the legendary Golden Chew Bone on display at the Parkville Art Museum. While attending its unveiling, however, Parkville denizens are shocked to
learn that the monument has vanished. But with Sweet Pea's extraordinary sense of smell, she's the perfect pup to sniff out the perpetrator. She's accompanied by Wayne, a raccoon whose comedic rivalry with the pooch protagonist provides spirited competition, touching personal moments, and ample additional amusement in this already good-humored whodunit. Simple, cozy, and broadly colorful illustrations by Varon (My Pencil and Me) have an analog feel reminiscent of an old-fashioned Saturday morning cartoon. Brimming with visual gags and punny labels scattered throughout ("moldy bread slice," "soggy biscuit," "crumb-covered muffin wrapper"), this straightforward yet goofy graphic novel series launch will have young readers giggling into the next volume. Ages 6â€"10.