Poppy & Sam and the leaf thief by Cathon

With the ever-growing popularity of graphic novels, I'm sometimes frustrated by the lack of popular and still high-quality titles for younger readers. Sure, there are plenty of movie tie-ins and on the other end of the spectrum there's Toon books with their mostly artistic titles, but where are the Bone, Amulet, and Raina Telgemeiers for 2nd graders?

So I simply fell in love with this sweet and adorable title. Poppy, a miniature girl with light brown skin and black hair and her best friend Sam, a cute panda, live in a garden. Poppy has a house in a pumpkin and together they care for the garden. But one day something horrible happens - someone bites off Basil's leaves while she's sleeping! Can Poppy and Sam solve the mystery?

Colorful, simple pictures show a busy, green garden with anthropomorphic bugs and plants. The speech bubbles are easy to follow and the panels clearly outlined.

There's a little nonfiction included, as Poppy and Sam use various methods, both deductive and scientific to solve the mystery and keep the culprit away from Basil. Once the nibbler is found, Basil generously hands over some leaves, reminding them that it's better to just ask!

Verdict: A sweet choice for beginning readers, I'm eager to use this one in book club and I hope it turns into a series.

ISBN: 9781771473293; Published August 2018 by Owlkids; Borrowed from another library in my consortium