FICTION

The Case of the Missing Donut

by Alison MCGHEE
illus. by Isabel Roxas. 32p. Dial. July 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3925-3. LC 2012017460.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—The "sheriff"-a little boy in a cowboy hat, and his "deputy"-a small dog, are bringing home some donuts from the bakery. When the child opens the box to check on them, he can't resist the temptation and eats a "smushed" one just "to even it up." Convinced that his misdeed will go unnoticed, he doesn't realize that he has powdered sugar all over his face. To his great (and very humorous) consternation, everyone he meets on the way home appears to know his secret. Are they mind readers? With the help of his parents, his pup, and a mirror, he finally learns the truth. Roxas's digitally colored, cartoonlike illustrations are funny and expressive, with almost cinematic angle and zoom changes. McGhee's text serves as the perfect counterpoint to the pictures, keeping the hero clueless while allowing the audience to be in on the joke. The "truth will out" moral of this tale is subtle, since the boy's guilt serves as a punishment of sorts instead of any overt redress by his parents. Nevertheless, the story can be used as a jumping-off point to discuss honesty, responsibility, and trustworthiness, or paired with Laurie Keller's Arnie, the Doughnut (Holt, 2003) for a less-serious and tasty storytime. A fun addition to most collections, especially where snack-themed stories are in high demand.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY
In a crime caper for the picture book set, a boy ("the sheriff") and his dog ("the deputy") have a tough assignment: they must safely escort a box of a dozen donuts home from the bakery. Overconcern for the welfare of the tightly packed donuts leads to a quick peek in the box ("Better take a look-see, Deputy"), then some misconduct, as one donut goes missing. The sheriff and his deputy try to play it cool on the way home ("No one would ever have to know that a donut crime had been committed"), but the proof is written all over the sheriff's face in the form of powdered sugar, and everyone they meet asks about the tasty misdemeanor ("Did you enjoy your donut?"). The snappy text plays it straight, while the illustrations, drawn with graphite and colored digitally, hold the evidence that allows the reader in on the joke. Clever visual details play up the humor, and the characters are full of expression and movement. Once home, the lawman confesses: "It was no use trying to get away with crime in this town. Especially when you were the sheriff." Meanwhile, a mirror allows the sheriff to recognize his own earlier downfall and close the case. julie roach
Reviewed by Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova , Jun 01, 2013

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