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The Case of the Missing Donut
The sheriff and his deputy dog have been charged with a mission: to bring a dozen donuts home safely. All seems to be going well until the young sheriff peeks inside the box to check on the tasty treats. They’re practically calling his name, and in the blink of an eye (and with just a few nibbles), a donut disappears! Wherever could that missing donut be? Luckily, this is one mystery the sheriff and his deputy are sure to bring to a close.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2013
About the author
Alison McGhee
59 books420 followersAlison McGhee writes novels, picture books, poems, and essays for all ages, including the just-published THE OPPOSITE OF FATE, a novel, and the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller SOMEDAY, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Her work has been translated into more than 20 languages. She lives in Minneapolis and California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 27, 2024
Sheriff takes advantage of his authority role and takes resources from the community?? As if
August 8, 2013
A little boy (playing the part of Sheriff) takes his deputy (his dog) to the bakery to fetch a dozen donuts. His mission is to bring the dozen donuts home intact.
One the way home, the Sheriff stops to take a look at the donuts and notices one is smushed and needs a little even-ing up. One bite, two bites, three bites...gone!
As everyone eyes the Sheriff and inquires about his donuts he believes he must live in a town of mindreaders, but a look at his deputy and a glance in the mirror reveals the evidence written clearly across his face.
A funny read written in a fresh voice. Graphite illustrations were colored digitally. Great read aloud for PreK-2.
One the way home, the Sheriff stops to take a look at the donuts and notices one is smushed and needs a little even-ing up. One bite, two bites, three bites...gone!
As everyone eyes the Sheriff and inquires about his donuts he believes he must live in a town of mindreaders, but a look at his deputy and a glance in the mirror reveals the evidence written clearly across his face.
A funny read written in a fresh voice. Graphite illustrations were colored digitally. Great read aloud for PreK-2.
April 20, 2025
A boy who is the sheriff of the town eats one donut on his mission it deliver it to his house. He decides to keep it a secret and is confused why everyone he passes hints that he has eaten a donut. It’s only when he gets home and looks in the mirror that he understands.
March 14, 2021
The Case of The Missing Donut is about a little sheriff that gets sent to the donut store to pick up a dozen donuts with the dog. He had to make sure nothing was wrong with the donuts and checked to make sure nothing mischievous was going on. He saw a squished donut and tried to fix it, and then it was gone. He had eaten the donut. On the way home, he tries to act normal as nothing had happened. He kept getting asked if he liked his donut, and he was confused. But little did he know, there was powder sugar on his face. He got home and discussed his case with his parents. They looked in the mirror finally, and their case was closed. The illustrations in this book were also using colored pencils, and they also used cutouts, white borders, and double-page spreads throughout the book.
I believe that McGhee’s purpose for writing this book was to teach children the importance of guided imagination and creativity. The little boy acted like a sheriff and never gave up on it. Every task he did was a case in his eyes. This book’s characterization also showed the independence he had as a sheriff with his deputy, but even if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. Another thing that I believe is an essential concept from this book is telling the truth. When the sheriff got home, he felt like lying to his parents about the missing donut so that he wouldn’t get in trouble. It is always essential to tell the truth, no matter what.
I believe that McGhee’s purpose for writing this book was to teach children the importance of guided imagination and creativity. The little boy acted like a sheriff and never gave up on it. Every task he did was a case in his eyes. This book’s characterization also showed the independence he had as a sheriff with his deputy, but even if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. Another thing that I believe is an essential concept from this book is telling the truth. When the sheriff got home, he felt like lying to his parents about the missing donut so that he wouldn’t get in trouble. It is always essential to tell the truth, no matter what.
September 28, 2017
Sheriff (a little boy dressed up) and Deputy (his dog) go for a walk to the bakery to fetch a dozen donuts. Their mission: to bring all the donuts home safely and in one piece. But along the way one donut gets smooshed; then it's one bite here, one bite there, and ooops the whole thing is gone. As he continues to make his way home Sheriff can't figure out how everybody is on to him. He finally makes it home and tells the truth about the missing donut and the mystery is solved when he and Deputy look in the mirror.
I feel like this would have been an easy book to have too much going on, aka wordy, but Allison McGhee did an excellent job of telling a charming story paired with Isabel Roxas' illustrations. This would be a fun book to use for a donut storytime.
I feel like this would have been an easy book to have too much going on, aka wordy, but Allison McGhee did an excellent job of telling a charming story paired with Isabel Roxas' illustrations. This would be a fun book to use for a donut storytime.
November 27, 2019
This is a cute introduction book to the genre of mystery. There is a sheriff, a little boy, who goes out with his dog, a deputy, to get donuts. He becomes curious to see what is going on inside the box of donuts he is taking back home. He notices that there is a problem with one of the donuts and he decides to eat it thinking no one would notice. As he walks around town, people are asking him how his donut was and the sheriff is questioning how people know he ate a donut. It isn't until he gets home that he sees himself in the mirror and realizes he has been walking around with powder all over his face.
December 5, 2017
I have used this book a couple of times for a doughnut themed preschool story time. The story is a little on the long side, but I usually make an exception because it is so cute. It's written in a very clever way and has a cute/funny ending. I like the illustrations and color palette that was used.
June 21, 2018
This book made me laugh! (Who can resist the call of donuts ...) I love this fun story about a boy taking his jobs of both sheriff and donut carrier quite seriously. Great for any kid who takes tasks very seriously (but who also can't help being a kid).
December 16, 2023
A boy nicknamed the Sheriff goes to get a box of doughnuts for his family. He eats one and gets powdered sugar all over his face. He spends the rest of the book wondering how people know he ate a doughnut. I just wasn't into this one.
February 17, 2024
I could see small children enjoying this one. The "sheriff" of the story was tasked by his folks to pick-up some doughnuts, and it's not until the last page/illustration that he finally understands how everyone around him knows he snacked on one...
July 26, 2018
Storytime Theme: Donuts
September 19, 2018
Cute illustrations and concept. A little too young for my two, but they did enjoy it. "He ate the donut! He has powder on his face!!"
October 25, 2018
This book is so cute!
November 27, 2018
If this character was a little girl, this could totally be about my childhood (or my daughter). Donuts...YUM!
March 11, 2019
I just loved this.
October 9, 2019
Loved it, possibly a good option for introducing the idea of genres.
July 20, 2021
A boy brings home a box of donuts. On the way he can't resist eating one. Will anyone notice?
September 7, 2021
it very goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.
January 2, 2024
Imaginative, fun, and relatable story about a boy and his deputy dog.
August 14, 2024
This one really got me giggling! It is a fun, silly book. Especially who can stay away from Donuts?! I cannot! Lol
February 5, 2025
Lots of fun for the reader who knows the answer to the problem right away. I can see kids getting a giggle over this one.
February 8, 2017
2.5 stars.
June 13, 2019
Where did the donut go and why are people looking at the sheriff funny?
March 12, 2017
This book is an adorably-illustrated gently-told tale. The mystery wasn't at all hard to work out. Except maybe for the protagonist.
March 2, 2017
Really cute. I am going to use it for my 'food' story time!
September 17, 2019
This book is an amazing book for students. It shows the importance of telling the truth and provides an amazing story to act out with students!
June 27, 2017
Cute! The illustrations are adorable. And it's a good lesson in telling the truth. Reminds me a little of Nanette's Baguette.
February 25, 2015
Personal response: I was attracted to this because it was about donuts. I have been loving donuts a lot lately. Donuts will always have a special place in my heart because I teach dance at a dance studio next to a donut shop. I also thought this book was funny and I loved the pair of the boy and his dog. The problem someone may have with this book is that it exacerbates the sheriff/policeman/donut stereotype. I do not find it offensive and it is very mild in this book, but someone else may have a problem with it.
Purposes:
1. Enrichment/Enjoyment read aloud for K-1st graders
-Kids will like this book because it is humorous
-Children can relate to a time when they were given a special responsibility. The class could give examples and talk about if it when well for them or not.
-This book could also be a good tool to talk about lying and how it is just better to confess like the sheriff did.
-I think kids would enjoy the suspense and mystery aspect of the book.
2. Curriculum
-You could use this book to talk about what you should do when a similar situation happens to you. The book kind of follows the boy's thought pattern in how he dealt with the situation. It would be good to talk about what the boy did wrong and what he did right.
-The term dramatic irony is probably too big for children in kindergarten or 1st grade to really understand, but this book could be a good, simple, introduction to that. Even if you do not use the term dramatic irony, you could talk about how the reader knows about the donut on the boy's face even though the boy does not figure it out until the end.
Purposes:
1. Enrichment/Enjoyment read aloud for K-1st graders
-Kids will like this book because it is humorous
-Children can relate to a time when they were given a special responsibility. The class could give examples and talk about if it when well for them or not.
-This book could also be a good tool to talk about lying and how it is just better to confess like the sheriff did.
-I think kids would enjoy the suspense and mystery aspect of the book.
2. Curriculum
-You could use this book to talk about what you should do when a similar situation happens to you. The book kind of follows the boy's thought pattern in how he dealt with the situation. It would be good to talk about what the boy did wrong and what he did right.
-The term dramatic irony is probably too big for children in kindergarten or 1st grade to really understand, but this book could be a good, simple, introduction to that. Even if you do not use the term dramatic irony, you could talk about how the reader knows about the donut on the boy's face even though the boy does not figure it out until the end.
November 16, 2015
The Case of the Missing Donut
Written by Alison McGhee and Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
CAUGHT! GUILTY! With your hand right in the cookie jar or in this case the donut box! Have you ever been in a position where you were asked to bring something home without eating it? Maybe a bag of your Grandma’s favorite cookies, dinner from your favorite restaurant, brownies from your Mom’s house, bagels from your favorite coffee shop, or a box of warm donuts from the local donut shop? Well, more often than not, we talk ourselves into thinking that eating just a little bit will be okay! This young boy in the case by Alison McGhee struggled with this same predicament. However, he and his dog had an added responsibility in the town that made the situation a little bit more interesting.
Find out what happens in The Case of the Missing Donut! I can guarantee that you and other readers of all ages will be able to relate to this story about human nature and will find it an excellent read! CASE CLOSED!
Additional Resources:
http://www.clcd.com.prox.lib.ncsu.edu... - listing of awards and book summaries
http://www.alisonmcghee.com/ - author’s website
Written by Alison McGhee and Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
CAUGHT! GUILTY! With your hand right in the cookie jar or in this case the donut box! Have you ever been in a position where you were asked to bring something home without eating it? Maybe a bag of your Grandma’s favorite cookies, dinner from your favorite restaurant, brownies from your Mom’s house, bagels from your favorite coffee shop, or a box of warm donuts from the local donut shop? Well, more often than not, we talk ourselves into thinking that eating just a little bit will be okay! This young boy in the case by Alison McGhee struggled with this same predicament. However, he and his dog had an added responsibility in the town that made the situation a little bit more interesting.
Find out what happens in The Case of the Missing Donut! I can guarantee that you and other readers of all ages will be able to relate to this story about human nature and will find it an excellent read! CASE CLOSED!
Additional Resources:
http://www.clcd.com.prox.lib.ncsu.edu... - listing of awards and book summaries
http://www.alisonmcghee.com/ - author’s website
October 9, 2013
The Case Of The Missing Donut
By Alison McGhee
Illustrations By Isabel Roxas
Grade Levels: App. 1-3
DRA/Lexile Measure/GLE: n/a
Reviewed By Aaron Carter
The young boy (Sheriff) and his dog (Deputy) were tasked with purchasing a dozen donuts and ensuring their safe arrival home; however, the jostling the donuts, combined with his vivid imagination, force the Sheriff to open the box, at which point he discovers that one is smushed. Attempting to "even it up," the child ends up eating the donut, and along his journey home those people passing by him ask about the donut, though he doesn't understand how they know about the missing donut. At home, his parents discover the missing donut and, when asked how they knew, they tell Sheriff and Deputy to look at each other. Powdered sugar and sprinkles on their mouths are evidence to the obvious. Overall, this is a fun read with simple sentences and easy-to-understand words. The illustrations are well done and contribute nicely to the storyline.
By Alison McGhee
Illustrations By Isabel Roxas
Grade Levels: App. 1-3
DRA/Lexile Measure/GLE: n/a
Reviewed By Aaron Carter
The young boy (Sheriff) and his dog (Deputy) were tasked with purchasing a dozen donuts and ensuring their safe arrival home; however, the jostling the donuts, combined with his vivid imagination, force the Sheriff to open the box, at which point he discovers that one is smushed. Attempting to "even it up," the child ends up eating the donut, and along his journey home those people passing by him ask about the donut, though he doesn't understand how they know about the missing donut. At home, his parents discover the missing donut and, when asked how they knew, they tell Sheriff and Deputy to look at each other. Powdered sugar and sprinkles on their mouths are evidence to the obvious. Overall, this is a fun read with simple sentences and easy-to-understand words. The illustrations are well done and contribute nicely to the storyline.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews