A Case in Any Case

February 1, 2017
Two cases for the forest detectives!Police Chief Buffy, a young mouse, misses her old partner in crime fighting, the gruff toad--and former police chief--Gordon, who is taking a break that looks a lot like retirement. Late one night, a scrabbling noise on the window wakes her up, frightening her. When Buffy seeks Gordon's help in discovering who the mysterious "scrabbler" is, they happen upon another case: two kindergarteners have gone missing. The duo investigates, but it's anything but smooth sailing. Gordon's brusque manner frightens the kindergarteners when he tried to interrogate them as to the whereabouts of their classmates, and egos get in the way. Still, all turns out well in the end, as two detectives are better than one. Nilsson's third Detective Gordon mystery is as charming and droll as the first two. Filled with silly and sweet songs, anthropomorphic animals who all get along (except the fox), and a naive sensibility, it should easily please fans of the first. (The books should be read in order to enjoy the development of the characters). Again decorated with Spee's full-color, often full-page woodland scenes, the package will be a joy to share with young listeners or an apt choice for newly independent readers. May Gordon and Buffy detect again! (Mystery. 6-9)

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Starred review from March 1, 2017

Gr 1-4-Everyone's favorite cake-eating toad, Detective Gordon, has retired from police work and has embarked upon a life of leisure. Buffy, his stalwart deputy, is now chief detective, and the little mouse takes her job most seriously. Unfortunately, she is plagued by strange noises at night and longs for her old friend and confidant. Meanwhile, Gordon is beginning to find his retirement less than stimulating and misses his beautiful police hat and magnificent stamp with its thunderous "kla-dunk." When two young animals go missing from a kindergarten class, Gordon and Buffy decide to rejoin forces to solve this most vexing of cases. Charming, droll, and approachable, this series is old-fashioned in the best sense of the word. Life lessons are imparted within these pages but with a gentleness and brevity that allow a simple yet engaging plot to move forward. Spee's illustrations, done in warm and enveloping tones, set the perfect, cozy mood. VERDICT While kids don't need to have read the first two volumes, they will enjoy the repetitive quirks of the two main characters if they have. Perfect for graduates of early chapter books and a guaranteed hit as a read-aloud, this is a definite purchase for all children's collections.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2017
Things have changed in the cozy police station in the forest since last we visited with Detective Gordon (a toad) and his enthusiastic assistant police officer Buffy (a mouse) in Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case (rev. 3/16). Gordon is experimenting with retirement, and he finds that his life lacks purpose. He's also feeling jealous of Buffy's popularity within the forest community. For her part, Buffy, now acting as chief detective, is a bit nervous in the police station all alone and misses Gordon's company. But they are both too proud to admit their needs, and it takes a crisis (two missing kindergartners), then an argument ( Stupid old toad! Idiot child! ) to bring them together and lead to an acknowledgment of their warm affection for each other. There are two cases to be solved in this story. Readers will have cracked the first onewho is the nighttime scrabbler? by the end of the first chapter. The other casewhere are the missing kindergarteners?needs all Buffy's people (well, creature) skills and all Gordon's deductive reasoning to sort out. The tone here is understatedly hilarious: the list of equipment and supplies that the various animals carry on their expedition to rescue the missing bunnies goes on for a full three pages, building in nuttiness and absurdityand seldom has a rubber stamp functioned so powerfully. sarah ellis

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)