Agent Moose

Gr 1-4–Agent Moose and his smart sidekick Owlfred are two of the best investigators in the Big Woods. Agent Moose has cracked 99 cases and is itching to make it an even 100—if only the disappearance of the moon was an actual case rather than a predictable natural phenomenon. His rival agent Camo Chameleon has beat him to the 100-case mark. Or has he? And what does the disappearance of Terrance Turtle have to do with it all? Bright colors and clear character drawings make this graphic novel as easy to follow as it is fun to read. Agent Moose and Owlfred are masters of disguise but always identifiable to readers—if not to the other characters. Refreshingly, physical characteristics such as sharp teeth do not code characters as good guys or bad guys—beauty or furriness doesn’t correspond to virtue. Running jokes, wordplay, and alliteration add spark, and emotional responses such as suspicion, timidity, and resentment are conveyed through a combination of art, dialogue, and narration, adding nuance to this silly whodunit.