Penelope Snoop, Super Sleuth

By Author / Illustrator

Christine Roussey, Pamela Butchart

Genre

Mystery & Detective

Age range(s)

Publisher

Bloomsbury Children's Books

ISBN

9781526656674

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

09-05-2024

Synopsis

Penelope Snoop is BACK, and she has a new case to solve. Her super-special shiny seashell has VANISHED! With her trusty sidekick, Carlos the dog, Penelope sets out to uncover the mystery - and begins a search for the shiny shell which will take them to the depths of the ocean and back again!

Penelope Snoop is absolutely the BEST Finder-Outer-in-the-Whole-Wide-World - but will she be able to crack the case? Hilarious, original and fabulously illustrated, this is an irresistible picture book from the bestselling, award-winning Pamela Butchart.

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Reviews

Sue

Full of humour, Penelope Snoop, Super Sleuth is a wonderful story, showing how an enquiring mind and a vivid imagination can make any situation great fun! Having noticed her shell is missing, Penelope sets off on an adventure across the beach and to the depths of the ocean, questioning a seagull, a dragon and even an octopus, on her quest to locate it, until the ending reveals the real culprit, bringing both Penelope and the reader back to reality!

Shocking neon orange is used as a main colour in this book, contrasting with the pink used in Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective’ and some pages echo those in the other book, offering a sense of familiarity for younger readers. This use of bright colour and the varied page presentation adds to both the surreal feeling of her adventure and the playful nature of the text.

The book would be great fun to use at home or at school to develop imaginative play. A special hat and a magnifying glass would make an excellent start to a 'Finder-Outer' kit, which children could add their own elements to before setting off to solve a mystery of their own, limited only be their imagination! Tracking down a fossil might lead to an adventure with dinosaurs, or the mystery of the missing snail might lead to a jungle safari! Who wouldn't want to be a Super Sleuth?!

Picture book / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher