The Mango ­Monster

PreS-Gr 2–Perfect for fans of Gaia Cornwall’s Jabari Tries, this sweet picture book uses a mango mystery to exemplify teamwork and problem-solving. Cousins Marianne and Zoe are ecstatic about the start of their favorite time of year: mango season. When they reach for the freshly ripened fruit from their backyard tree, they find it already picked over! The pair resolve to find the sticky-fingered Mango Monster, setting up a series of clever traps to catch it in the act. Although some of their plans fail, they use each outcome as a learning experience, walking readers through their thought processes as they interpret their results and create new traps based on what they learned. The cute and colorful illustrations employ different perspectives to keep readers interested as they solve the mystery alongside the protagonists.