Poppy and Sam and the Leaf Thief — Cathon

A duo of strawberry-sized sleuths cracks a case in this cute and lively picture book with graphic novel touches — the first in the Poppy & Sam series. It’s a beautiful day in the garden when Poppy and her panda friend, Sam, hear a commotion. Their friend Basil—who has always been known for his elegance—is in tears, because somebody nibbled his leaves last night! Poppy puts her detective skills to work, with help from Sam, and together they set out to find the culprit. They start by interviewing the insects, but Ms. Honeybee, Madame Ladybug, and Mr. Bumblebee all have contradictory suspicions of their own. So Poppy and Sam test some creative methods to catch the vandal red-handed. After a few misadventures, they find the remorseful nibbler—and Basil helps him understand that everything tastes better when it is freely offered. Illustrated with charming details and lots of kid appeal, this is an easy-to-read graphic novel with friendly characters and a suspenseful story line.