Precious and the Monkeys

Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases #1

by Alexander McCall Smith, Ian McIntosh (Illustrator )

Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in this delightful, enchanting tale for children, we find out just who has been stealing her schoolfriends' snacks and how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!

Genres: Mystery, Africa, Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Middle Grade, Botswana

96 pages, Hardcover

First published July 23, 2010

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★
“One thing, you see, does not always lead to another. That is something all detectives learn very early in their career, and Precious had already learned it, and she was only seven.”

What a delightful short audio experience this was! I didn’t know that there were children’s books about the very special #1 Lady Detective, Precious Ramotswe, but there are. I’ve not seen them, so I have no pictures to share.

The book begins with author Andrew McCall Smith introducing himself and his love for Botswana and how it’s perfectly possible that Precious Ramotswe might live in the very real town he has chosen for her.

Then the splendid Adjoa Andoh begins the narration with how to say pronounce Ramotswe.

“This is the story of a girl who became a detective. Her first name was Precious, and her second name was Ramotswe.

~~~~~RAM + OTS +WE~~~~~

That is an African name, and it is not as hard to say as it looks. You just say RAM and then you say OTS (like ‘lots’ without the L) and then you finish it off by saying WE. That’s it.”

That doesn’t look nearly as impressive as hearing Adjoa roll her Rs, or whatever that great sound is, and then finish off the name with a flourish. She’s perfect.

The story itself is fun. She is only seven, but she’s got a strong sense of justice. At her school, sweets and cakes are being stolen, and the children are blaming a particularly round little boy who always has sweets in his pockets.

Precious says that’s not reason enough to blame him. So she sets about investigating. She asks questions. Are there any witnesses?

“ If you ask somebody what they saw, they often have to think for awhile before they answer, and they often get it wrong.”

She’s a quick learner, isn’t she? She’s also a clever detective, because she works out a foolproof way to solve the mystery.

I listened to the Audible Plus audio, free for members, and I see another dozen or more similar short stories of his in the catalogue. Most are about an hour long which is perfect for a reading snack.

[Jan Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's OK to be nice.
It's OK to smile
It's OK to ask questions; you may become a detective!
It's OK to be able to tell when adults aren't speaking literally.

Don't steal.
Honesty is good.
Thieves undermine trust.

Take care re misjudging others.
Avoid false accusations.
Connections do not equal proof.

Sometimes life calls for standing up to bigger people or to your friends.
Sometimes life calls for standing up for your friends.

Mysteries can be fun.

Parents can be nice.
Parents can be storytellers.
Growing up expecting authority figures to be fair is nice.
Some people grow up having teachers who are strong and fair, and that's what they expect.

What people think can present difficulties.
What people think must be considered.
Proof must not only be found, it must also be demonstrated.

Think about a problem.
Be resourceful.
Be inventive.
Be persistent.
Trust that there will be a solution.

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, among others, and now he's written a prequel for children. I love several of his series, so on an impulse, I entered and won a contest on Goodreads to receive this book plus the latest in the adult series. I saw no conditions or obligation to write a review, but since I'm reviewing everything anyway, here it is. I'd say the reading level is age six or seven for a strong reader. It wouldn't have been a book I'd have read to my children because reading out loud was by then for bigger books. They would have scarfed this up. I think they would have liked it. The "morals" were implicit; I just jotted down a few notes while reading.

As my children are grown up now and as there are no grandchildren on the horizon yet (leaving me plenty of "idle" time to get into trouble, ha ha!), I'm planning to donate this book to their first alma mater, Briar Vista Elementary School.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would happily read Alexander McCall Smith's laundry list, for the delight it would doubtless be...but this is another sweet, funny little story that made me smile as usual. It is a prequel to the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, about Precious Ramotswe as a little girl. It was published first in translation to Scots, to encourage Scottish children (and others) to read in that tongue. What a man, supporting worthwhile things with his talent.

[Rebecca Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Cake Mystery introduces young readers to the lovely setting of Botswana and a precocious young girl named Precious who likes to figure things out. Although she thinks it may be many years before she’ll have a mystery to solve, it turns out that someone in her school is eating people’s snacks and she may just be able to figure out who has done it. With her father’s encouragement and her own careful logic, a detective is born in Botswana.

The book is a quick and easy read. McCall Smith speaks directly to the reader on occasion, given the story a personal tone. Although there were a few moments in the book when it seemed the author forgot that this was her first case (such as “it took some time for her to drop off, as it often did when she was thinking about a mystery…”), meeting Precious as a child was delightful. She apparently always was a thoughtful, pleasant person. The mystery is a simple and rather predictable one for an adult reader, but young readers will enjoy the intrigue. The clever way Precious proves the solution to the mystery was likewise impressive and amusing.

Although I’m an adult, I look forward to reading more from Precious’ younger days. I suspect and hope that I also may interest my son in Botswana and Africa when we read this story together. The Great Cake Mystery is highly recommended for the young reader.

Cross-posted on my blog

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander McCall Smith, creator of the popular No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, about a woman detective in Botswana, turns to the childhood of his popular character, Precious Ramotswe, in this first beginning chapter-book adventure. An observant child with a kind heart, Precious decides from an early age that she will be a detective, spurred on by her father's observation that she has what it takes. Her first case involves the theft of a number of goodies and treats, brought from home by Precious' classmates to enjoy after the healthy but uninspiring school lunch. The two children who lost items to the thief soon decide that it must be Poloko, an unpopular and overweight child in their school, but Precious is not so sure...

It's been a number of years since I read The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency , but I do recall enjoying it, as well as the HBO miniseries made from it. Reading The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's First Case was such a pleasure that I was seized with a desire to reread that original book, its sequels, and the sequels to this children's novel based upon it. Precious is such an engaging and sympathetic character, and Smith's narrative is so compassionate and humane, that I found his story wholly satisfying. I also enjoyed the beautiful illustrations from Iain McIntosh, done in vivid shades of reddish brown, black and gray. It's interesting to note that this book was first published as Precious and the Puggies in Scots (sometimes regarded as an older dialect of English, sometimes as a separate language), and then translated into standard British English in Precious and the Monkeys . Generally speaking, I tend to frown on the renaming of British books for the American market - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone becoming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , and so on - but in this case, I prefer the American title, as the British one hints too broadly at the solution to the mystery, potentially spoiling the suspense for some young readers. I highly recommend this little chapter-book gem, both to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mysteries, and to fans of the adult series looking to see how their favorite sleuth got started.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was once a time, best beloved, when the early chapter book section of your local lending library was a veritable wasteland of white characters. Oh, every once in a while you might be able to get your hands on Stories Julian Tells or My Name is Maria Isabel but by and large they were it, man. Then, in the last ten years or so, something changed. Suddenly there was an influx of great books starring kids of a diverse range of backgrounds and races. Different nationalities would sort of come up too (Younguncle Comes to Town, The White Elephant, Rickshaw Girl, etc.) but they remain, to this day, far less common. Then, two years ago, the amazing and delightful Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke hit American shores and the masses did rejoice. The series was remarkable, not just for the great writing and art, but because until that moment the idea of reading about a girl living in contemporary Africa was a dear and distant dream. Maybe that’s what helped to convince American publishers to bring over Alexander McCall Smith’s enjoyable early chapter book The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s Very First Case. An early chapter book of a mystery starring his most famous character during her childhood, Smith isn’t entirely comfortable writing for a young audience, but this mini mystery and its jaw-dropping illustrations will please proto-detectives, both large and small.

Some people are good at noticing things. Take Precious Ramotswe. She’s the kind of girl who will seriously consider when someone might be lying or telling the truth. Prompted by her father to consider a future as a detective, Precious likes the idea but figures it’ll be years before she gets her first case. As it turns out, it happens a lot faster than she might think. At school a boy is accused of stealing sweets from his fellow students. Refusing to accept circumstantial evidence, Precious discovers the true culprits and devises a delightful solution to the sticky fingered thief problem.

Normally when an author of books for adults chooses to switch gears and write for children they choose one of the standard ten topics they (often mistakenly) think kids will enjoy. Then they simplify their language to the point of baby talk and create something dreadful. It doesn’t really matter how bad it is, of course. Adult fans will purchase the book for unsuspecting nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and the author will pocket the cool hard cash. I am pleased to report that for the most part Mr. Smith isn’t like those other authors. For one thing his blurb on this book states that “He is also the author of numerous children’s books,” though they have probably been published in countries other than America. And for another, what he’s done with The Great Cake Mystery is unique. He’s taken his own adult character, gone back in time to when she was just a child, and written her into an early chapter book mystery. It’s sort of brilliant. One begins to wonder how long it will be before others catch on and we start seeing L’il Jason Bourne, Kid Tom Ripley, and a ten-year-old Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (which is to say, Pippi Longstocking). Now I confess to you right here and now that I am at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to this particular character. I’ve never read The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. As such, I know nothing about the character of Precious Ramotswe. So when I judge this book I, for better or worse, have nothing to compare it to. I can only see it as an eight-year-old reader might.

Now a kid coming to this book isn’t necessarily going to know that the character here has appeared as a grown-up in other novels. With that in mind, they might really enjoy how Smith chooses to start his story. Right off the bat he tells you that Precious will someday grow up to become a detective. I think kid readers would really get a kick out of that fact. Then we begin with Precious’s father telling her a story about his encounter with a lion. Truth be told it doesn’t have much bearing on the story and could come right out without a blink. Yet it’s so enjoyable that I’m glad it’s there, even if it’s utterly superfluous. The rest of the book sets up the schoolyard mystery, the false accusations, the true culprits, and the clever method of ensnaring them (literally). Kids adore mysteries and if you tell them that this one involves stolen cake and crazy monkeys, you might be able to ensnare them too.

There are a couple problems here and there, though. Chapter breaks appear out of the blue and feel almost as if the book were one long story and an editor came in later to chop things up a bit. The message is also pretty darn blunt. Subtlety is clearly not the name of the game. Also, Smith has an odd tendency to have his characters explain something to one another in service to the reader that would be incredibly obvious to them. You end up reading sentences like “I went up north to see my uncle, who lived way out in the country, or the bush as we call it in Africa, very far from everywhere.” That would be the equivalent of reading a book here in the States that says “I went to North Carolina to visit my uncle in the bush, or the country as we call it here in America.” He does it again two pages later when a character describes his sleeping mats and says, “They were much cooler than a bed and blankets in the hot weather, and easier to store too.” He’s saying this to Precious who would know perfectly well why a person sleeps on a mat. I’m all for explaining stuff like this to child readers, but there’s an art to working it into the text so that it makes sense. In the context that we’re reading it here, there’s no logic at work. It’s just an author being obvious and not attempting to work with his own characters naturally.

Let’s get something straight. Mr. Smith is a perfectly serviceable author. This book is written better in some places, worse in others, but all told it’s rather nice. His fans will pluck it up like so many of his other books. Yet the reason I dove for it as quickly as I did had nothing to do with the author and everything to do with the illustrator. Iain McIntosh has illustrated Mr. Smith’s adult novels in Britain for years. His style resembles deft woodcuts and the art inside is jaw dropping. Using just the colors red, black, and gray, McIntosh manages to create pictures that are gorgeous and funny all at once. They look rather classic, but there are some distinctly modern touches at work as well. For example, after discussing a chubby classmate’s bulging pockets an accompanying picture shows the boy but also includes an image of an old-timey hand pointing directly at his pocket. He also seems to have created the world’s most awesome monkeys. I mean that. There’s something about them that is just infinitely pleasing. All told, you’ll come to this book for the McCall Smith moniker, but you’ll stay because of the McIntosh art.

Aside from easy readers, good early chapter books are probably the most difficult fiction to write for kids. You have to keep your vocabulary limited but tackle relatively complex plots at the same time. It’s not easy. And sure, Mr. Smith may stumble from time to time, but in the end what he’s produced here is just a really fun read. Botswana heroines don’t appear as often as all that in children’s libraries or kids’ bookshelves after all. Wrapped in some awesome packaging, The Great Cake Mystery is a great read for young mystery addicts. Here’s hoping that in the future there will be other young Precious tales for them to discover as well.

For ages 7-10.

[Donna Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, easy middle-grades introduction to the main character of The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. The story is sweet, with a lesson about kindness built into it. I especially enjoyed the fantastic illustrations by Iain McIntosh and the helpful name pronunciations.

[Infosifter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute mystery story for young children. It advocates values like honesty and kindness through the experiences of likable and believable characters.

[Sookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a joy to read. its been a while since i have read a children's book where there is respect, niceness and celebration of dignity in them. i adore this character as an adult and to get a peek into her childhood was absolutely thrilling.
Precious has, as always, been kind.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet (in more ways than one!) book for children, with a moral in the tale. The beginnings of Precious Ramotswe's life as a detective, before she grew up and opened the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana. I loved the beautiful illustrations by Iain McIntosh.

[Haleigh DeRocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids and I really enjoyed listening to this on audiobook

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perhaps you should become a detective one day."

Is it possible to feel a sense of homesickness for a book?

If so, that's how I felt about Alexander McCall Smith's beloved series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

I felt a longing to return to Botswana, the home of Mma Ramotswe and her friends. The feeling to return came out of nowhere, but that doesn't mean it's an unwelcome one. Frankly, it was only a matter of time before I felt that longing to return.

However, to my immense disappointment, the first book of the series was already checked-out by another patron. Of course, I went ahead and put a hold on it, but that gnawing feeling to return still wouldn't go away.

And then I saw it.

Precious and the Monkeys, ready to be borrowed, at the bottom of the page.

So that's what I did.

I was curious to know more about Mma Ramotswe, especially to see what her childhood was like. When I began my journey with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, I only got to the second book before I became inundated with other books and whatnot. And so far, I must say, I'm very pleased with the first installment of Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases.

Precious Ramotswe is so precious.

Even as a child, Precious is thoughtful and kind. She is patient and compassionate and smart. When pastry treats are being snatched, Precious is determined to discover the culprit. But more importantly, she's determined to clear her classmate's name when he's been blamed for the crime.

I knew who was responsible for the missing treats, thanks to the edition I originally shelved/checked out from the library, which gave it away in the title, but it was still a very cute read. In fact, it's such a wholesome story with good moral lessons. Why, I know what I'm getting my cousin's kids for their seventh birthday.

As for the audiobook, Adjoa Andoh, the narrator, did a fabulous job.

I'll definitely be joining Precious again on her next early case, The Mystery of Meerkat Hill.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a young reader mystery, telling the story of Precious Ramotswe's first case. Precious is the star of the adult books, The No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency.

There are so many reasons I think this book is very cool: 1) the illustrations are phenomenal; 2) it is a mystery for young readers; 3) the main character is a smart girl; 4) it is set in Botswana.

I have two significant complaints about the book. First, it seemed clear to me that it was written by a Westerner. I did not believe that he got the "world" of the book quite right. I also found some of his language unhelpful in promoting biases. For example, he described Botswana as being "down near the bottom of Africa" and a river in Botswana as flowing "the wrong way." I understand that he is trying to simplify for children. But it betrays his worldview from the Northern Hemisphere. My second complaint is that Precious' important characteristic that is emphasized at the beginning is how nice she is. Niceness is a good thing. But girls don't need another role model who is extremely "nice." They have plenty of those. I think that Precious' creativity, intelligent, and agency are better qualities to emphasize and applaud.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful introduction to Precious Ramotswe. As a child she always asked questions. Her father told her that was a sign she might be a good detective. When someone starter stealing food at her school, Precious went about solving the crime, setting her up for her life as owner of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
I realize that this book has been written for children, the story is sweet, and the drawings are charming.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved this fun story of Alexander McCall Smith’s Precious Ramotswe when she was a girl. I liked how she didn’t jump to conclusions and was kind to someone other children were making fun of. The culprits of this theft and Precious’ method of discovery had us laughing out loud. We listened to this on audio and the narrator did such a great job.

[Kathryn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precious Ramotswe is one of my favorite characters of all time. This short origin story written for children is very sweet. I liked getting to see Precious with her father. The narrator for this children’s series is amazing (Adjoa Andoh) as is the narrator for the adult series (Lissette Lecat). Wonderful, cozy books that feel like drinking a cup of red bush tea.

[Abbie]

It was a lot of fun to read an Alexander McCall Smith Mystery about Precious as a young girl written for a younger audience! Seeing the way he explains things for younger audiences to understand was nice to see!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet introduction to how Precious Ramotswe became a detective. I really enjoyed this and am going to continue on with the series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrator does a wonderful job—full of expression and funny different voices. My kids both said they LOVED listening to this story, and I did too. I’m a fan of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, so it was really fun to get to introduce my kids to the same character but as a child. :)

[☺Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended to all who love Precious Ramotswe and Alexander McCall Smith's writing!

[Barb Middleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm confused. This looks like an early chapter reader for grades 2-3. It reads like an early chapter reader. But the reading level is 5.6 which means the vocabulary is at a 5th grade level. Huh? Typo? I'd be curious what others think about that... Maybe I can get a grade 3 teacher to read it and give his or her opinion. Hmmm.



Meet Precious. And no, it's not Gollum, the horrible hobbit from Tolkien's, Lord of the Rings. But it is Precious from an adult mystery series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith. Mma Precious Ramotswe owns a detective agency as an adult. This story is about Precious as a seven-year-old who becomes interested in detective work.



Precious Ramotswe's dad tells her exciting stories such as when he comes face to face with a lion and out-wits it by jumping in a covered grain bin. He makes the lion sneeze by tossing dusty bits from the bottom of the bin into it's face. The villagers hear the sneeze and scare the lion out of the village and away from her dad.  Precious says that her dad is the person who gave her the idea of becoming a detective. Her first case is at school and involves food that keeps disappearing from the corridor outside the classroom. Students start blaming one another without any proof and Precious decides to set a trap to catch the thief.



The author does a good job with repetition and explaining concepts that will help the early reader in understanding and decoding this tale. Precious is kind and thoughtful. She explains three things that make a good detective: one that asks questions, one that can tell when people are not telling the truth, and one that doesn't jump to conclusions but looks for evidence. There is humor throughout - I got kick out of the skinny cook echoing everything the big cook said because "it was safe." When the kids accuse another student of being a thief, everyone deserts him except Precious who says she is his friend and knows he's telling the truth when he says he didn't steal anything. This would make a nice read aloud with discussions around topics such as what happens when false rumors and accusations spread, how to stand up for what you believe in, and the importance of being kind to others.



The plot is predictable regarding who stole the food and Precious sounds too old for a seven-year-old at times, but I don't think it will matter to young readers. When Precious stands up for the boy I thought the dialogue sounded more like an adult preaching than a seven-year-old talking: "'It doesn't matter what people like that think,' she said. 'What matters is what your friends think. I'm your friend, and I know that you're telling the truth.'" Maybe if my husband didn't teach seven-year-olds it wouldn't have stood out. I know that a seven-year-old's speech is not that sophisticated.



It's fun to make connections between the character in the adult series and the younger Precious. I have not read the adult novel in a long time but I do remember she likes to cook and eat. In this story, she outwits the thief with her cooking, even though I found it hard to believe a seven-year-old could bake a cake. You might have to suspend your beliefs here and there, but this tale is sweet and worth reading.

P.S. That is the eBook title on OverDrive but when I looked for a photo I could only find the title,  The Great Cake Mystery.

Reading level 5.6



3 out of 5 Smileys

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of the children's spinoff books about Precious Ramotswe, and it's a great deal better than the one I read first (Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion). Part of its charm are the illustrations.

While the resolution of the mystery is pretty silly, it's well within the traditions of children's wish-fulfillment stories, rather like Danny the Champion of the World. Precious acts much more like a normal kid in this story, and manages to champion the underdog without coming off as tooo, tooo precious for words.

My only quibble is with the silly (SIL-lee) additions (ad-DI-tions) of "pronunciation guides" for two or three of the African names. The author could have put them at the back, or as footnotes, instead of dominating the page--and interrupting the flow of the story-- with them. That, and the statement to the effect that "all detectives know they want to be detectives from the beginning." I've known a few; they don't, not necessarily. But then the author (AW-thor) knows that, and I bet the kids reading it realise it too.

[Kavita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at Precious Ramotswe, long before she became the famous detective we all know and love. As a seven year old girl, Precious has already started showing signs of the inquisitiveness and curiosity that helps her later in solving cases. She also loves to cook and eat, even at this age. She goes to the local school, where everyone is very nice. And then food starts disappearing and a fat boy gets accused of theft. It is up to Precious to find out the real culprit and prove it to everyone.

It just amused me that African children in some remote village, where cattle-breeding seems to be the main occupation, are all taking British food to school. Or maybe it just stood out for me because the idea of 'bread with jam' makes me want to throw up.

It's a nice children's story, and very well-written to cater to children. There is also a small story Obed tells Precious about his experience with a lion. All in all, young kids might enjoy this book.

[Ladiibbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case

The popular detective series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, set in Botswana, features the adult woman, Precious Ramotswe, her prickly assistant, and the boys who share space with her in a mechanics' shop/detective agency.

Wonderful, engaging series. Have read ten or so. I was surprised to see this short story for "young mystery readers" featuring a grade or middle school Precious investigating what happened when a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom.

The culprit is named, but Precious isn't convinced -- so she searches for clues.

Fun story.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both my kids enjoyed this, but I would say my 6-year-old probably had a firmer grasp of the events than the younger one. I think I'd recommend it for kids in the 6 - 9 range. I loved this book both because it introduced us to life in Botswana from a kid's perspective and because the story and characters were so wholesome. Friendship, loyalty, and character ingenuity shine throughout the narrative. Our edition also included some discussion questions that were geared for older kids, but lead to some thoughtful conversation nonetheless. I'm looking forward to exploring some of McCall's other titles.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sawyer (5) loved listening to this book. It took us maybe two 30 minutes reading sessions to finish. There were just enough pictures to keep his interest and the opening story about the time her father met the lion grasped his attention. It also teaches a lesson about not jumping to conclusions, about not spreading rumors. But it doesn’t do it explicitly. The language also is easy enough for a child without being dumbed down. It also has a cake recipe at the back. Bonus! When we finished it I asked Sawyer if he wanted to read more books about Precious and he said, “Oooo! Yes!” Good thing our library has more!

[Allie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom and without good reason, a boy in the classroom is considered the main suspect, Precious takes matters into her own hands. Precious wants to be a detective someday and she knows you need evidence before you jump to a conclusion. In order to help clear the boy’s name, Precious does some sleuthing of her own. She finds out it is the local monkeys who have been stealing the cake! She sets a trap and proves her case, the boy’s name is cleared and Precious has a new friend.
Alexander McCall Smith’s mystery teaches young children the danger of jumping to conclusions. He crafts a determined and strong female lead in Precious and shares the careful steps a detective must take in order to prove her case. Honoring his home country of Botswana, The Great Cake Mystery is a vibrant book that takes place near the Kalahari Desert. The story intertwines elements of the beautiful setting and the vibrant African culture to create a page turning mystery that will be sure to hook students into the “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” series.

[Laurie Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read for kids with lots of good moral points made. Don't believe negative things about people without proof, you can be whatever you want to be, treat everyone as you would like them to treat you - with kindness, etc.

Set in Botswana, it's also nice to see some description of the area and it's inhabitants.

[Wes F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginnings of the famous lady detective, Precious Ramotswe of Botswana--in McCall Smith's lovely world. Didn't realize this was a Young Reader's book--but enjoyed "reading" the audiobook on my iPhone; borrowed from the library.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carino carino carino. Versione per bambini dei casi della signora Ramotwse.
A scuola scompare il cibo, specialmente i dolci. Ma chi è il colpevole? Il ragazzino goloso che tutti sospettano? Ovviamente no!