The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman and Deborah Zemke

I am always on the lookout for great early readers. When I find one, I want everyone to know about it. Robin Newman's The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake is one of the best early readers I've read this year. It is hilarious and has a fun twist at the end. 
   

Robin dropped by to chat with me about Wilcox, Griswold, dogs, school libraries, and reading. I wrote

the words in orange, and Robin wrote the words in black. Thank you, Robin! 

The book trailer for The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake is DY-NO-MITE! Cynthia Nugent at Rascal Media did an amazing job on the trailer. For more info about her work, please go to www.rascalmedia.com.

Detectives Wilcox and Griswold are two hardboiled mouse detectives, working their beat from a shoebox at the back of Farmer Ed’s barn. They are MFIs, Missing Food Investigators, and on their seminal case, they’re on the hunt for Miss Rabbit’s missing carrot cake. (Note: The names of the animals have been changed to protect the good guys.)

Illustration Credit: Deborah Zemke 

Deborah Zemke’s illustrations are AWESOME!!! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that my characters could be so irresistibly adorable. Her illustrations blow me away!

Download a reading guide. 

My English Cocker Spaniel, Madeleine, is ever-hungry, ill-mannered, spoiled rotten, and the most-beloved member of my family. She is a hoarder of tennis balls and rubber ducks. A world-renowned food vacuum, she can often be spotted scouring the streets of New York. Madeleine also loves to swim, but her favorite activity in the whole world is picking up her boy from school. (Ironically, this English Cocker Spaniel was born on the Fourth of July.)

Madeleine is named in honor of our late Cocker Spaniel, Cookie, and in tribute she’s named after madeleine cookies and the character of Madeline.

Explore Robin's website. 

Reading is like having your own special magic wand. It can transport you to places near and far; introduce you to characters that are dear to your heart; and make you laugh when you’re having an incredibly bad, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Did you know writing for kids is the best job in the world?

School libraries are extremely under-appreciated. They should be treated like the Holy Grail and funded accordingly. I still remember my grade school library. It was located in the basement in a windowless room next to the cafeteria. And I also remember the librarian. She had these amazing super powers. She always knew exactly which books you would like and she would have them waiting for you when you walked in the room.

Take a look inside Creston's Spring 2015 catalog. 

Mr. Schu, you should have asked me about my next Wilcox & mystery. It is The Case of the Poached Egg, illustrated by Deborah Zemke (Creston Books, Fall 2016). Penny, the egg, has been poached! Not poached as in boiled, but poached as in egg-napped. Was foul or fowl play involved? Detective Wilcox and Captain Griswold are scrambling to crack this case before they have an omelet on their hands.

MISSING

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS EGG?

 

        

            

   Image Source: Wikipedia

_____________

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION

PLEASE CONTACT THE MFI

1-800-MFI-FOOD

Proceed with caution. Suspects considered dangerous.

I am giving away a copy of The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake. 

Rules for the Giveaway 

1. It will run from 4/22 to 11:59 PM on 4/23. 

2. You must be at least 13. 

3. If you win, please pay it forward. 

Borrow The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.