Review by Booklist Review
Wacky Splat the Cat is back, and this time, he turns detective: Who messed with my ducks? Each day one of his brilliantly colored, carefully crafted toys disappears only to return the next, sans beak. Accompanied by mouse pal Seymour and his trusty spy kit, Splat sets traps, follows prints, and finally uncovers both culprit and motive. Splat is appealing as always fuzzy, possessive of his toys, and enamored of his gadgets. The artwork features richly saturated colors set off against white backgrounds, and the goggle-eyed ducks are particularly striking, especially in the coded message appearing on the endpapers, decoded at the back.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-A little apple tree, alone in a forest of tall oaks, marvels at how the stars in the sky seem to be hanging on the branches of the other trees. "Oh God," it whispers, "I want more than anything in the world to have stars." God encourages the little tree to be grateful for its fragrant blossoms, branches that offer a resting place for birds, the shade it provides to weary travelers, and its delicious fruit. But the tree continues to plead for stars so that it will feel truly special. God finally causes a strong wind to blow, knocking the tree's apples from its branches. When they hit the ground, they split open, revealing a small star in the center of each one. The universal lesson of self-acceptance-that we must look hard to find the stars hidden in each of us-is accessible to young children but will also resonate with older readers. However, the childlike font and whimsical watercolor illustrations, with a smiley face painted on the apple tree, sweet cartoon forest animals, and munchkinlike people, do not match the more sophisticated message of the story and will unfortunately limit its appeal to preschool audiences.-Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Splat discovers that someone is tampering with his toy duck collection: each day a duck goes missing; the next it's returned--without a beak. To solve the mystery, he transforms into Secret Agent Splat. He nabs the culprit, only to discover that all is not what it seems. The humorous series' recognizable illustrations pair its fluffy cat with a collection of kooky wooden ducks. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
