The Famously Funny Parrott: Four Tales from the Bird Himself

Gr 2-4–In this debut from the cocreator of Dora the Explorer, carefree socialite Freddie Parrott attempts to solve mysteries and go on silly adventures, and luckily his faithful butler Peccary is there to save the day. Those looking for a more traditional mystery might be disappointed, as the cases don’t usually have any clues to lead the reader to a deduction—the conclusion of the mystery is often just a joke. Who stole the waffle batter in “The Case of the Missing Waffle Batter?” Well…they tell you right away. And those looking for something funny might be equally disappointed; there’s humor here, but it often gets weighed down by the prose, so younger readers might miss the joke entirely. There’s certainly some wit and charm, which is enhanced by the pencil-heavy artwork, although there seems to be less artwork than in contemporary early chapter books.