The Case of The Bad Apples:

A Wilcox & Griswold Mystery

By Robin Newman

Illustrated by Deborah Zemke

 

    Wilcox and Griswold, the mouse detectives, are back, this time on a big apple caper. Follow the clues to solve the crime. Was the culprit Sweet Pea, the piglet next door? Maybe Herman the rat? Or could Hot Dog be up to some tricks?

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    What critics said about the first Wilcox & Griswold Mystery, The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake:

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"Readers ready for chapter books will solve the crime and then be surprised by the twist at the end. Here's hoping for more hard-boiled detecting from Wilcox and Griswold!" 
    — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

2015 Best Middle-Grade Book, Kirkus Reviews

Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal

 

    "The word play in this book begins with the title and continues on nearly every page, making it hilarious for youngsters to read. The poached egg in the title was stolen, not boiled. The mouse detectives in charge of finding the egg before Farmer Ed’s Big Speggtacular are MFI’s (Missing Food Investigators). The wording in the book sometimes resembles old police detective shows, and the illustrations provide clues to help children discover who stole Penny, the egg. The full-color illustrations also provide details that enhance the meaning of the text or highlight details that are later used by the characters as clues. Children will delight in being able to find the clues before the MFI’s. The sentence structure, word choice, and illustrations make this a book that children and adults will want to read multiple times."

    — Janet Luch, Educational Reviewer, Adjunct Instructor SUNY New Paltz, Touro College, Visiting Professor, DeVry University

    "Move over Spade, Friday, and Clouseau. There's a new badge in town. Meet Detective Wilcox, Missing Food Investigator. This inquisitive mouse will lead independent readers on a punny romp across the farm for his latest case to catch a cake thief. Kids are sure to be back for seconds." 

    — Summer Dawn Laurie, Books Inc.