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Letters from the Investigation

by Mark Teague & illustrated by Mark Teague

Age Range: 5 - 8

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2004
ISBN: 0-439-45868-4
Publisher: Scholastic

The captivating canine from Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School (2002) returns for a second adventure revealed through Ike the dogâs letters, this time written from jail. The dapper and dignified Ike has been detained as the prime suspect in the disappearance of two cats from his neighborhood. His plaintive letters to his vacationing owner proclaim his innocence and the catsâ guilt as pet birds in the area begin to vanish. Newspaper stories are interwoven into the clever format, which also utilizes the device of one side of each spread in color showing what is really happening juxtaposed against a black-and-white illustration denoting Ikeâs melodramatic (and fictional) description of his unfair treatment as described in his letters. When Ike escapes from jail, he decides he must âtake matters into my own paws.â He helps the police capture the cats, followed by a police ceremony naming Ike an honorary detective. Teagueâs innovative approach to storytelling is fun, but educational as well, skillfully imparting some valuable lessons in point of view and reading between the lines. (Picture book. 5-8)