32. Monti and Leo: A Mystery in Pocketville

 

32. Monti and Leo: A Mystery in Pocketville. Sylvie Kantorovitz. 2025. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early chapter book, friendship, animal fantasy]

First sentence: Monti was looking forward to meeting his friend Leo at the library.

Premise/plot: Monti and Leo are great friends. Monti is accused of stealing a figurine from a library--the library was celebrating collections. Leo is not sure how best to handle the situation. Does he believe in Monti's innocence? Does he publicly stand by him and declare him to be falsely accused? Does he believe the circumstantial evidence? in the gossip? Perhaps it's best if he becomes DETECTIVE LEO.

My thoughts: I am conflicted. On the one hand, I'm not sure many early chapter mystery books are written any better. On the other hand, this one is just so....so....dull. Then again I am an adult. It is not about me being entertained. This one is the second in the series. Pocketville is not an idealistic place for sure. It is realistically flawed. The residents all have their strengths and weaknesses.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

31. Wrong Time Rooster

 

31. Wrong Time Rooster. Michael Parkin. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 star, picture book, telling time, concept book, farms] 

First sentence: One morning, a very important delivery arrived at the farm. The animals all gathered together, wondering what could possibly be in the crate! 

Premise/plot: The farm has a new rooster. The problem? (As you should know by now, all books have a 'problem.') This rooster can't tell time....literally. This rooster has clocks--many of them. But he can't read time, or, tell time. Therefore, he crows at all the wrong times. 

My thoughts: I expected the book to be funnier. For better or worse, it turned into a concept book about telling time. I suppose that could be a great thing for some. Does it make for the most entertaining farm story? Probably not. Would it still be a natural choice for reading aloud? I think so.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers