4 out of 4 stars
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Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat is another installment in The Inca Book Series by R.F. Kristi. These books follow the adventures of Inca the cat and his pals as they travel the world. Inca is a cat detective who is addicted to solving any mystery he can get his paws on.
In Serendipity Mystery, Inca and company are off to Sri Lanka to explore ancient ruins and relax on the beach. They aren't there for long before they hear the news that an important artifact has gone missing. A sword has disappeared from a local museum, and Inca just knows this is a job for him and his furry friends. Together with help from some new pals- elephants and leopards- the cats are chasing down clues and learning about the culture and history of Sri Lanka along the way.
The Inca series is a really wonderful collection of children's books. They allow children to learn about different places around the world as the cats are real globetrotters. Children learn about different cultures, including the cats' birthplace, France. One of the cats is even named "Fromage" and it is frequently mentioned that he feels no meal is complete until he's had a slice or two of cheese. Things like this are a great springboard for children to learn more about French cuisine, or learn more French words.
Another area where children may find their interest sparked is all the animals that are mentioned. The cats have a dog and a hamster in their little squad, and children who have (or want) common pets such as these may become interested in learning more about them. This particular mystery takes place in Sri Lanka and gives the characters access to elephants and leopards. Again, this is a great tool to have children learn more about what they are reading. The author's love of animals is passed to the young readers in an entertaining, accessible way.
One of the highlights of the book was the adorable illustrations by Jorge Valle. They are uniquely styled, bright and engaging. My favorite illustration took place when Inca the cat falls asleep and dreams of the glory he will receive from solving the mystery. In his dream, he is being crowned by angels and the illustration shows them fluttering on either side of him as they wrap his royal cape around his shoulders. Inca is portrayed as sitting regally but his expression is "pure cat" as he disdainfully side-eyes his admirers. Anyone with a cat in their life will instantly recognize that expression, and it made me laugh out loud when I saw it.
The description of the book sets the reading age at 7-12. I think the vocabulary is a bit elevated for the younger range, however, if they are reading with an adult either at home or in a classroom, I think that is an advantage to them. Children absolutely should be challenged by vocabulary and reading a book that they are enjoying will help them learn new words in a fun way. Older children who are reading more independently will also learn, either through context clues or by using a dictionary. I think the story might be a little too immature for the older range, but parents/teachers who are choosing reading materials must know their audience. There are probably some older children who would enjoy trying to solve the mystery, and the ease of reading would make this a good choice for a reluctant reader.
I awarded Serendipity Mystery 4 out of 4 stars. A child between 7 and 10 or so would enjoy this book, particularly a child who likes animals and solving mysteries. I think the author has a great concept in this team of cat detectives and I hope to see even more books added to this wonderful children's series.
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Serendipity Mystery
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