by Alicia Rudnicki, Library Mix

The Case of the Missing Monkey, (High-Rise Private Eyes Series #1) by Cynthia Rylant, 2000, HarperCollins, ISBN 0-688-16306-8
Available at Powell's Books

Bunny the bunny and Jack the raccoon are private gumshoes in Cynthia Rylant's High-Rise Private Eyes easy reader series. They like to frequent the Grill Next Door when they aren’t cracking cases or jokes.

An argument about the edibility of Brussels sprouts versus potted-plant leaves is resolved by agreeing to go out for pancakes instead. But before they can dig in to a short stack of hotcakes with syrup and butter, they are hot on a case.

Missing at the Grill Next Door
Max, a large brown dog that owns the grill asks for Jack and Bunny’s help in finding his missing glass monkey. The silliness and wordplay proceed, with Jack taking poetic license as he observes the joint for suspects.

Bunny glowers at his nonsense about a “moose with a mouse, a bear with a hare, and a dog with a frog” noting that none of those critters are in the restaurant. “I feel poetic today,” he says.

Children will enjoy the bantering, the wacky clues and G. Brian Karas’ cute illustrations. Bunny, who sports a pink pullover and beret, files her fingernails. Jack looks like a rumpled Columbo with his tie loosely knotted and his shirtsleeves rolled up.

An Introduction to the mystery genre
The Case of the Missing Monkey provides a good opening for discussing the mystery genre with primary students. It is the first in the eight-book High-Rise Private Eyes series.

Rylant is prolific and well-known for other fun, easy readers. These include a series about an only child named Henry whose huge dog, Mudge, changes his life and another series about elderly Mr. Putter and and the equally aged and infirm cat, Tabby, that he adopts to make life less lonely. Whether being silly or serious, Rylant always pleases.