Horn Book

While out for a walk, mystery-solving dog King and his human Kayla (King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats, rev. 5/17, and sequels) notice something amiss with friends Thor and Jillian. Their "unhappy neighbor," Mr. Gary claims that puppy Thor has destroyed his yard, but the evidence doesn't seem to add up. Kayla and Jillian tally up some of the things they know: THor doesn't like any of the munched veggies found at the scene of the crime, and he isn't big enough to knock over a heavy trash can. With the help of their canine and human friends and a little bit of technology, King and Kayla get to the bottom of the case. At last, Thor is finally able to bark out in triumph: "I told you I'm a good dog!" Meyers's illustrations invite opportunities for the developing reader to investigate alongside King and Kayla, and provide support and intrigue as the case progresses. The text also invites playful read-alouds, cued by King's quizzical expressions in the illustrations and some all-caps dialogue. This newest addition to the Kayla and King series continues the good work of sleuthing duo, offering readers an opportunity to test their mystery-solving skills—and laugh along the way.