Dressed in the traditional trench coat and fedora hat that are the trademarks of real detectives, Detective Beans -known as Jellybean to his mother – is a tabby cat who takes his job seriously. He believes he is “a hard-boiled detective cleaning up this city one case at a time” and he is back on the job after solving the mystery of his missing hat (which won Best Junior Fiction book at the New Zealand Book Awards in 2025).
This time, Beans is given a treasure map by Captain Scuttlebeard and Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over Cat Town – to places he doesn’t expect! With Biscuits by his side, and with help from some other familiar faces, can Beans find the treasure . . . and get home in time to clean up his room?
Many younger students choose to gravitate towards the graphic novel section of the school library searching for something in that format that is suitable for both their ability, interest and maturity, because they believe that this is the format that real readers read, because that's what their older peers read. But it is seldom that they find something to meet their needs, so they will be happy to discover this series (and accompanying website) which will appeal and meet their level of maturity - a A clever but funny cat who is also a detective who solves everyday crimes is much more suitable, particularly if they can solve the mystery before Detective Beans does.
However, it is also a teaching opportunity as they may be unfamiliar with the format that so closely integrates text and illustration to carry the story forward as well as portraying the thoughts and emotions, actions and motives of the key characters. Most obvious are the visual and structural elements such as the individual panels and sound effects, as well as the variety of textual elements like the different shapes of the speech, thought and narrative balloons, each with their own purpose but still carrying the core elements of story, characters, setting, atmosphere and theme of its more traditional text-based counterpart. (More comprehensive information about these elements and using graphic novels in the classroom is available in Getting to Know Graphic Novels ).
Even though there may be some pushback about promoting this format as a valid and valuable reading source, there is plenty of evidence available to show it is an important form of learning that for those who prefer this style as they " actively participate in [the story's] construction by inferring what they see from the image and linking it to the corresponding text to understand the narrative developing from panel to panel, or picture to picture. The order and organisation of the panels, images and text on the page determine the flow and movement of the story by giving the reader cues as to what their eyes should follow next". They may also reconnect reluctant readers to reading itself, particularly those for whom the screen has more appeal.
Thus, a series that is not only fun and funny but can also be used to enrich and enhance both the reading journey and experience is a valuable addition to the library collection. ---from the publisher
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
*******
When an ambitious feline detective gets his paws on a mysterious treasure map, curiosity turns into a full-blown adventure! Li Chen’s bestselling Detective Beans series continues in this new graphic novel that will delight mystery fans and cat-lovers alike.
Detective Beans is set on being the world's most successful detective, but before his mom will let him solve any cases, he's going to need to clean his room first. But when he sets out to deliver some mail he received by mistake, a whole new world of adventure opens. After being handed a mysterious treasure map by an old sea captain, Beans sets out to connect the clues on a journey that winds through amusement parks, secret tunnels, and pirate ships. Together with his best friend, Biscuits, the fearless feline detective pieces together a mystery that nobody in Cat Town saw coming. Young readers will delight in the charming characters, clever plot twists, and positive spirit of curiosity and problem-solving that pack every one of these colorful and beautifully illustrated pages.---from the publisher
208 pages 979-8881602239 Ages 7-10
Keywords: graphic novel, mystery and detective, humor, treasure, map, cats, animals, part of a series, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, If You Liked The InvestiGators, If You Liked Real Pigeons, If You Liked Kitty Quest, If You Liked Dog Man
