Agent Lion and the case of the missing party

K-Gr 4--In the second installment of the "Agent Lion" series, the bumbling Agent Lion assists Petunia Skunk in a search of a festive party, which has been abruptly abandoned at the very chic Hotel Du Lox. As in the original, the trench coat and fedora--adorned Agent Lion proves to be quite inept, as he ignores clues and becomes easily distracted by his sweet tooth. Petunia, sporting a pink bow, yellow jumper, and knee socks, keeps him on track. After a few red herrings (their intrusion into an ostrich family reunion is particularly memorable) they discover that the hotel manager, a dignified koala, had simply moved the party to another room. Petunia and Agent Lion both enjoy their quest, relishing the detours such as a quick dip in the pool and an upside-down thinking session. Text and art work expertly together. The simple statements and contrasting images create much of the easy humor. Pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations delightfully depict posh anthropomorphized hotel guests, ornate decorations, and mayhem in full spreads mixed with paneled pages of action and movement. VERDICT Agent Lion may be clueless but he knows how to have a good time, in this easy reader mystery that will have children laughing out loud.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge P.L., MA

The bumbling and lovable detective is summoned by Petunia Skunk to solve a ridiculous mystery. From the start, accessible text and detailed art combine to create a silly, merry frolic. The leonine protagonist, whose actions and behaviors are entirely anthropomorphic, is clad in quasi-traditional spy clothes: fedora and trench coat--both turquoise-colored. A single sentence opens the story: "Agent Lion was hard at work." The double-page spread shows him flying a red kite across a bucolic scene with blue skies, green grass, and picnickers. After his secret radio sends him to upscale Hotel Du Lox, Agent Lion foists his kite upon the concierge and follows Petunia to the scene of the crime: a large room devoid of its earlier party decorations and treats. Delightful art--often in split frames on a page--complements a text in which Petunia strives for, and finds, clues while Agent Lion's comical blunders include misinterpreting evidence, falling into a custodian's mop bin, and being distracted by the hotel's considerable amenities. Still, he borders on pomposity. There is a refreshing lack of rancor, however, even from accused suspects. Illustrated animals are clever human parodies--even including the hotel's framed artwork. Mrs. Walrus, well-appointed, smartly dressed, and enormous, is especially funny. The case's solution will have been evident to observant readers from the start, but that would have spoiled all the fun, as Mrs. Walrus points out. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 44% of actual size.) Pure entertainment. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.