The Cherry Thief

K-Gr 2—Chef Armand is known for his creative use of the cherries that top each of his desserts. Even his shop, La Cerise, is named for the delicious red fruit. Unfortunately, a mysterious phenomenon has occurred, and customers are suddenly receiving pastries without the expected trimming. Adding to the mystery, a set of tiny blue shoeprints appear across the pages, leading the chef and his faithful pooch to the supposed perpetrator of the crime. An enraged Armand, determined to stop the disappearances, chases his suspect around the patisserie, resulting in a miraculous bonus for both the chef and the unusually tiny thief. Illustrations for this adventure keep the pages turning with an array of perspectives, partial images that continue to the next page, and plenty of action-filled scenes. The book's palette of simple soft yellows and white, accented by bits of gray and blue, serve to frame each and every bold red cherry dot. This offering presents a neatly crafted addition to classroom activities with opportunities for inference. A general purchase suitable for all libraries.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX