Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of the Missing Flower

by Kristyna Litten

When the rare Agave flower goes missing from Bearona's botanic gardens, it's up to super-sleuth Ivy and her grandpa Bearlock Holmes to crack the case.

The first book in a brand-new mystery fiction series, this interactive book features 15 puzzles that are woven into the action, so readers can feel immersed in the exciting detective plot.

Hardcover

About the author

Kristyna Litten has written and illustrated several books for children, as well as creating artwork for book covers and magazines. This is her first book with Candlewick Press. She lives in Yorkshire, England.

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed by a beginner reader* (read together with parent - still lacking ability to read sequential comic cells when SOMETHING EXCITING is happening on the next page, so... there's that. We're working on it). Riddles were all perfectly accessible and seemingly very easy (KS1, yr1), some solved before I finished reading its description (contrast this to, for example, Penelope Strudel: And the Birthday Treasure Hunt - SPOT THE CLUES and CRACK THE CODES to help Penelope find her birthday surprise! or another "picture puzzle book" (list here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8... ), which would eat up comparatively more time). That being said, I appreciated the variation in the puzzle types, and while they were quickly solved, I'm not sure I should assume that they were easy - maybe a riddle that lingered a few seconds longer would have missed its attention-span-window. Maybe it's exactly right. Reading words backwards, a maze, a coded map and directions (cipher), and at the end a tricky spot-the-difference. Spot the queen bee amongst the others was solved before I finished reading the instructions, though.
*I really don't think the "middle grade" tag is appropriate - "lower grades" would be a better description, I think. "Beginner Independent Reader", so let's say the 6-8 year old range. I know ability varies, but I think this is altogether too cute and cozy to appeal to a middle grade reader of say 9-12 years old. That's my suspicion, anyway. I think it's a great read, and I'd hate it to get underrated simply because it was tagged and targeted incorrectly.

Overall: it's rock solid. EFFORT was put into this, from every angle. (I put forth The Mystery of the Golden Pyramid as its antithesis - what a disappointing crock of.. well, yes, anyway... a fine example of polished publisher's package, but an excremental smear of an effort). Litten clearly cared and did her homework, wrote an acceptable plot, deftly balanced the educational matter with the fun bits, and made it beautiful to boot. I didn't even find a flaw in the puzzles.

We will certainly look forward to another installment of the Ivy and Bearlock Holmes series (in spite of the name - urgh, why always, always Sherlock?!). In the meantime, I just ordered a bunch of vintage Young Usborne Puzzle Adventures (https://www.goodreads.com/series/3015...), and are hoping those are hitting at the right level, too.

Also pleased that Litten is a local gal, seemingly. Not sure how nearby, but she painted the local independent bookstore's windows ahead of the release of this story. We counted the bees. It didn't exactly get us excited, but hey, free puzzle.

[Emma James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet and gentle book for youngster who like a book that offers more than just a story. There are puzzles to solve along the way to help Ivy and Bearlock crack the case. Beautifully illustrated. I especially liked Detective Hopkins who falls asleep at a crucial moment in the investigation!

[Helin Puksand · Rating 5 out of 5]

See raamat on kirjutatud koomiksina ja jutu sisse on põimitud erinevaid nuputamisülesandeid. Lapsena meeldisid mulle sellised raamatud hirmsat moodi, aga tore oli seda ka praegu lugeda. Ühe vea siiki leidsin ka, kus raamatus antud õige vastus ei läinud tegelikult pildiga kokku.
Raamat ise räägib siis sellest, kuidas botaanikaaiast kaob haruldane taim ja kadumisjuhtumit hakkavad lahendama detektiiv Mia ja tema vanaisa Kaarup Holmes. Lugu on põnev ja hargneb lahti tasapisi nagu krimkades ikka.
Soovitan kindlasti I kooliastme õpilastele, sest ka nõrgema lugeja paneb põnevus edasi lugema.