Sophie Johnson: Detective Genius

This book is ideal for reading aloud to a savvy audience who would be able to spot exactly what is really going on in Sophie’s world by reading the subtext, told in the quirky illustrations. Sophie the detective has a crime to solve. Someone has stolen Lion’s tail. (One of many toys partaking in Sophie’s imaginative detective story.) She has a new assistant, Bella, (pet dog) but Sophie considers Bella has not absorbed any knowledge of detecting from her vast library of books on the subject.  On her shelves we spot The Art of Investigating, Hidden Secrets, Famous Spies, and Sherlock Bones. These books have obviously been well read by Sophie! Meantime Bella does her best to tell Sophie that a couple of real burglars are sneaking past the window, swag bags aloft. Readers need to search the pictures to discover that Sophie has not only eventually found that missing tail, but has also captured the culprit. Poor ignored Bella gives up trying to attract Sophie’s attention, and sets about creating elaborate traps to catch the real criminals. There is no text to explain any of these happenings, so reading the pictures is vital, and this telling is skillfully executed by the illustrator. Sophie, Detective Genius, solves the case. Rabbit is the guilty party and is dragged off by Sophie to her police station. But it is Bella who receives the police recommendation, a VERY GOOD DOG medal, whilst we see three burglars locked up in the police van. A fun book for would-be detectives and their like.