Two's a Crowd: The Real McCoys

Gr 3–5—The team who reimagined how art and text work together to tell a story in the first entry in this series (The Real McCoys) have done it again and reinvented the classic whodunit with an uplifting, modern twist. Siblings and elementary school detectives Moxie and Milton return with a new case: Who is "The Squiggler," an anonymous author of flattering notes sent to their classmates? Identifying the writer proves to be as difficult as negotiating their fledgling partnership: energetic go-getter Moxie relies on steady Milton but doesn't respect him. It's not until the siblings become crime-solving rivals and her BFF Emily is caught in the middle that Moxie realizes two isn't a crowd after all. Behr's black monochromatic illustrations bring dialogue and text to vibrant life and excel at capturing character reactions and timing. Pages with an abundance of clear space show Moxie slowing down, clearly conveying her sadness over the fallout with Milton. Swanson keeps the pace moving briskly while carefully developing secondary characters like Dad McCoy and teacher Mr. Shine, who provide just the right touch of adult wisdom and guidance. Thoughtful details that add realism balance narrator Moxie's comic extravagance: Emily has two dads, and back matter includes Moxie's dictionary of "cockamamie" expressions and suggestions for ways kids can show appreciation.