The Case of the Poached Painting

by Christee Curran-Bauer

Overview

The Museum of Food Art is in a state of panic! A priceless painting was pilfered in the middle of the night. Fortunately, the Pigeon Private Detectives—PPD for short—are on the scene. These three detectives crave cracking a good case almost as much as they like snacks. But can they catch a thief who appears to be a master of disguise?

Once again, author-illustrator Christee Curran-Bauer pokes fun at detective procedurals with kid-friendly humor, as she did in book one of the series, The Case of the Missing Tarts

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454943624
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	02/27/2024
Series:	Pigeon Private Detectives Series , #2
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Christee Curran-Bauer has a BFA from Pratt Institute in communications design/illustration, and is a proud member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Curran-Bauer is a Jersey girl currently living in Maryland with her family and spoiled French bulldog. She invites you to visit her at christeewithadoublee.blogspot.com and on Twitter at @ChristeeDoubleE.

Editorial Reviews

"Blending graphic novel–style panels and prose, Curran-Bauer once again delivers a riveting mystery; young animal lovers will eagerly decipher the clues along with the detectives . . . . Downright delicious.”—Kirkus

From the Publisher

2023-11-04
Another theft has the Pigeon Private Detectives on the case!

During the night, someone steals a painting from the Museum of Food Art. Reviewing the security footage, Detectives Martin P. Sweets, Felix Danish, and Ralph Custard see the painting seemingly moving on its own, but upon zooming in, Sweets spots a “master of disguise” in the background. At “fur-ensics,” a rodent scientist analyzes a piece of shed skin left at the scene and confirms they’re looking for a reptile with camouflage capabilities. The detectives’ next task is to interview local reptiles at the pond and the City Park Zoo. After some research at the library, the detectives return to the museum to investigate a second theft. They’ve narrowed down the clues to identify the perp, but it’ll take a lead from a boa constrictor, a cupcake bribe, and a midnight stakeout to catch the culprit! Blending graphic novel–style panels and prose, Curran-Bauer once again delivers a riveting mystery; young animal lovers will eagerly decipher the clues along with the detectives. Like the earlier installment, this one features an inspired food theme and puns galore. Cozy colored pencil artwork brings to life a world of anthropomorphic animals. “Comic breaks” occasionally interrupt the story with discussions on modern art concepts. Frequent examples of real-life art with fun twists (including a version of The Persistence of Memory with melting pizzas instead of clocks) add to the book’s educational potential.

Downright delicious. (notes identifying the spoofed works of art, glossary, animal facts) (Fiction. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews