This book makes a great birthday gift for an 7, 8, or 9 year old. All of the animals are gathering together to celebrate Horace the Elephant's eleventh birthday. Dressed in rich, elaborate costumes the pig, giraffes, zebra and gang are gathering for the fun. But when lunchtime rolls around, the cake is missing. Okay, whodunit? Now the real fun begins as all sharp-eyed readers can search page by page for the hidden clues. Some are in Morse Code, some are hidden in the border and some are hidden in the buildings which range from cathedrals to castles. This is a fabulous mystery told in verse with the visual feast of the illustrations leading the way. One of the best.
978-0810932654 Ages 7-10 32 pages
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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"When Horace the elephant turns eleven, he celebrates in style by inviting his exotic friends to a splendid costume party. But a mystery is afoot, for in the midst of the games, music, and revelry, someone has eaten the birthday feast. The rhyming text and lavish, detailed illustrations each provide clues, and it's up to the reader to piece them together and decide whodunit! "The fun of poring over the pictures is matched by the enjoyment derived from the textwitty, ingenious verses." -- Publishers Weekly Graeme Base is the author of many award-winning books for children, including Animalia (Puffin), The Sign of the Seahorse, and most recently, The Discovery of Dragons."--from the publisher
