Scouting for Clues

by Brandi Dougherty, Paige Pooler (Illustrator)

Overview

At Bark Park, Scout’s a little dog with a big appetite for solving mysteries! In Book 2 of the series, join Scout and her friends as they hunt for new clues!

Everyone's favorite canine sleuth is back with three new mysteries! Follow along with Scout and her friends as they search for clues to track down missing blueberries, explain why there’s a puppy on a leash in Bark Park, and figure out what Sprinkles is wearing!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524868055
Publisher:	Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication date:	04/20/2021
Series:	Bark Park , #2
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Brandi Dougherty was born and raised in Kalispell, Montana. After earning an English degree at Linfield College, she spent eight years working in children’s publishing before moving to California, where she pursued writing and freelance editing full-time. Brandi now calls sunny Los Angeles her home, where she wrangles two adorable kids and one crazy dog with her husband, Joe.
 

Paige Pooler has illustrated many books for kids, including Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia DeVillers and Jim Henson's The Enchanted Sisters. Paige lives in sunny southern California, where there are many lovely parks for her to visit with her two rescue dogs, Gracie and Freddie. Playing at the park is their favorite thing to do together! 

Editorial Reviews

2021-03-02
A dog solves three mysteries.

Scout is a dog of undisclosed breed who appears to visit Bark Park daily with her human. There, she talks with her friends, eats snacks provided by her human, and solves mysteries. Each of the three chapters is a self-contained mystery that barely warrants the label. It may appear to be splitting hairs to point out that dogs most likely would recognize a sweater (which the plot of “The Mystery Material” turns on) even if they hadn’t seen one on another dog, considering how many humans wear sweaters. This also speaks to the quality of the mysteries. Early chapter-book readers may be developing their reading skills, but their critical-thinking skills will generally be advanced enough that the “mysteries” in this book will (most likely) not be mysteries to them. This suits the book best to readers who are more interested in vocabulary and reading practice than in puzzling out mysteries. And though there are some authentically doggy traits present (puppies dash off into danger; canine characters display a high regard for treats, etc.), the canine humor and charm found in other dog-centric books for the audience (such as Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers’ King & Kayla series) aren’t so prominent here. Pooler’s full-color spot illustrations help to distinguish the characters, and three separate factual notes that touch on elements found in each chapter conclude the book.

In future, let’s hope Scout uncovers some mysteries worthy of her commitment to sleuthing. (Mystery. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews