Detective Beans: And the Case of the Missing Hat - by Li Chen (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Meet Detective Beans (just Beans for short), a young cat sleuth dedicated to doing whatever it takes to solve the case. After a night of mystery movies with his best friend Biscuit, Detective Beans wakes up to find his detective hat is missing. There's only one thing to do: hit the streets of Cat Town and find that missing hat. Cat Town is full of suspects, from the neighborhood bird to a magician in the park, and each twist and turn in this journey leads to an interesting new encounter-- and to solving a much bigger case than Beans could have imagined"--

Book Synopsis

Meet Detective Beans, the best kitten detective in town, equipped with his tie, brown trench coat, and--GASP. It's gone! His detective hat is missing! Discover the charming, whimsical, and mysterious world of Detective Beans in this new graphic novel series for middle grade readers.

"A must-read" -- School Library Journal

"Absurdly funny and clever" -- Kirkus Reviews

Meet Detective Beans (just Beans for short), a young cat sleuth dedicated to doing whatever it takes to solve the case. After a night of mystery movies with his best friend, Biscuit, Detective Beans wakes up to find his detective hat is missing. There's only one thing to do: hit the streets of Cat Town and find that missing hat! Cat Town is full of suspects, from the neighborhood bird to a magician in the park, and each twist and turn in this journey leads to an interesting new encounter -- and to solving a much bigger case than Beans could have imagined.

Brilliantly written and illustrated by New Zealand comic artist Li Chen, creator of the internationally popular ExtraOrdinary Comics, Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is filled with charming cat capers, warm-hearted humor, and detective stories, all in the form of a graphic novel that will entertain comics fans and readers ages 7-9 everywhere.

• Funny graphic novel mystery starring an adorable kitten detective
• Accessible graphic novel format for independent and reluctant readers
• Introduces classic detective-fiction concepts in an age-appropriate way
• First book in a delightful new middle grade graphic novel series

Give young mystery fans a case worth solving and introduce them to Detective Beans--the kitten sleuth who's always ready for his next adventure.

Review Quotes

...hardboiled-detective spoof full of sight gags and witty banter. [...]everything a fan of detective fiction could want can be found in this book, albeit made kid-appropriate. [...] Readers not familiar
with all the genre's tropes will find a lot to love here, too: much of the humor is universal and genuinely funny, especially the jokes told through the art. (Booklist)

Snazzy, appealing artwork, with firm lines, stylish focus, and an atmosphere reminiscent of hardboiled, 1930s detective tales, enhances this absurdly funny and clever graphic novel, which features vivid characters, snappy dialogue, and nonstop action. Catnip to feline lovers and mystery fans alike. (Kirkus)

The book is fast-paced and exciting, with a delightful surprise at the end [...] For readers who love their mysteries with a side of cute, this title is a must-read and would make a great addition to any ­library serving elementary school students. (School Library Journal)

About the Author

Li Chen is the creator of the internationally popular ExtraOrdinary Comics. She lives in New Zealand.