Shark Detective! / by Jessica Olien.

Perfect for fans of Love Monster and Dragons Love Tacos, this sweet and funny story about an unexpected friendship will delight creatures of all ages.

During the day, Shark lived a lonely life in the big city . . . but at night, he dreamed of being a detective. When a kitty goes missing, could it be time for Shark's dreams to finally come true?

School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 2-Poor Shark. High above the city, he sits in his hotel room, watching detective shows on TV, munching potato chips, and dreaming of a life as a real detective. In the cold reality of early morning he is "just a lonely shark in the city." A missing pet poster nudges him to grab for his fantasy, and Shark thoughtfully begins a quest to find the missing kitty of the poster, a search that begins with research in the library and developing inner strength through Tai Chi. Interviewing witnesses is difficult when the detective presents his formidable teeth, but luck is with him as a chance sighting of the missing kitty not only solves the case but promises a future career for Detective Shark. Full-page color graphic art illustrations fast-forward the action. Shark's black-and-white dream sequence gives a nod to film noir-inspired city streets and private eyes, and he hits the pavement dressed in imitation of his favorite detective, Sherlock Holmes. VERDICT Nothing slows the determination of chip-munching Shark in this lively romp through the mean streets. He's one cool sleuth.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Cartoonist/journalist Olien debuts with the story of a lonely, city-dwelling shark hero who is desperate to live out his Sherlock Holmes fantasies. A "Missing Kitty" poster provides the magic opportunity, and while he has little luck interviewing potential witnesses (they tend to run away, screaming "Don't eat me!"), he eventually finds the cat-as well as the cat's missing mousey toy, a loving new home, and a sleuthing partner. Olien's narration is oddly flat and literal given the story's atmospheric potential, and the ending feels rushed and overstuffed with incident. But she has a fine sense of the visual tropes of procedurals, film noirs, and psychological thrillers, and her compositional repertoire shows plenty of promise for stories to come. And snaggletooth, google-eyed Shark is an endearing goofball worth rooting for-readers first see him in his hotel room, wearing a nightcap on his head and bunny slippers on his fins, and scarfing down potato chips-and Olien's equally quirky premise delivers a steady stream of laughs. Ages 4-8. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Horn Book Review

A city-slicker shark fantasizes about becoming a detective; when he spots a flyer advertising a missing kitty, he sees his chance to prove his investigative chops. It's all a bit blithe, but the chunky, blunt art has allure, and the story's matter-of-factness--besides the hotel-dwelling shark, there's a single-dad-headed family that ultimately adopts him--is an unarticulated plug for open-mindedness. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

The moral of this story is: dreams can come true. People often wonder whether animals dream. Shark keeps dreaming about becoming a detective. The phrase "My hero!" shows up in his dreams often enough that, when he's wide awake, he dons a deerstalker, grabs a magnifying glass, and starts searching for a missing kitten. The flaw in his plan becomes obvious the first time he says, "Excuse me, sir! Have you seen this kitty?" No one trusts a shark. This may be a parable for the human condition. Or maybe Olien just likes drawing a shark in a deerstalker. Her illustrations are spare but delightful. In one picture, the shark is wearing a nightcap and snacking on potato chips. A hotel sign is only partly visible through the window, so it just says "HOT." It's hard to explain quite why that's funny, but it is. And the story is strangely inspirational: if a shark and a kitten can get along, maybe there's hope for the rest of us. The book occasionally seems slight, but slight isn't always a bad thing; it has exactly as much story as it needs. Many readers will demand further adventuresor imagine them for themselves. The last page will get them started. Spoiler alert: the cat's name is Watson. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Poor Shark is feeling mighty lonely until he comes across a missing kitty flier one afternoon. Finally, his solitary nights of watching detective shows are about to pay off. He will become cue the sunburst backdrop Shark Detective! He even has the Sherlock hat and magnifying glass for the job. To prepare, he tries to think like a kitty; he researches at the library; he does rooftop tai chi. Let the investigation begin! Unfortunately, people scream or hide every time he tries asking questions about the missing cat. Sure, he is a shark, but can't they tell he is a vegetarian? On the brink of giving up, Shark gets an idea that helps him crack the case and make a friend. Olien's detective spoof is comic in both look and tone. Drawn in a loose, comic-book style where saturated colors prevail, the cartoonish characters speak in speech bubbles and wander the streets and shadowy alleyways. With laughs lurking around every corner, readers will embrace the silliness of this unlikely sleuth.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2015 Booklist

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