The Case of the Missing Flower (Ivy and Bearlock Holmes Book 1): 15 Puzzles for Sleuths to Solve

by Kristyna Litten

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mystery, Childrens, Animals, Middle Grade, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

80 pages, Hardcover

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Kristyna Litten has written and illustrated several books for children, as well as creating artwork for book covers and magazines. This is her first book with Candlewick Press. She lives in Yorkshire, England.

Reviews

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for work, so so cute! Really sweet artwork; something about a cute little bear really fills me with joy.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest little comic with the right amount of mystery, informative nature facts, and fun!

[XfeliX · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooo süss, die Bilder sind so toll T.T

[Bibibabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wunderschöne Bilder, kindgerechte Handlung, perfekt zum Miträtseln
Das Cover ist einfach wunderschön und ich war erstaunt, als ich das Buch zum ersten Mal durchgeblättert habe, dass es innen genauso entzückend aussieht. Die Geschichte wird im Comicformat erzählt und die Illustrationen sind in einem zauberhaften Stil und mit sehr viel Liebe zum Detail gezeichnet.
Die Handlung ist kindgerecht und vermittelt eine schöne Botschaft über Selbstvertrauen. Da sich die Geschichte auch um Bienen dreht, erfahren die Leser ganz nebenbei viel Wissenswertes über diese Tiere.
Das Buch hat nur 75 Seiten, aber es passiert richtig viel, und die 15 Rätsel/Aufgaben sind abwechslungsreich und machen großen Spaß. Besonders gut gefällt mir, dass die Rätsel eng mit der Handlung verknüpft sind. So haben die Leser wirklich das Gefühl, mitte in der Geschichte zu stecken.
Ich finde, es ist ein ideales Buch für unterwegs, z.B. für eine lange Zugreise.

[Lusanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nederlandse versie namens de Leesknokploeg gelezen.

Iep en haar opa Beerlock gaan op onderzoek uit. De zeldzame Agave Berona is verdwenen en zij proberen de bloem weer op te sporen. In het boek vind je meerdere opdrachten om dichter bij de bloem en dus ook de dader te komen.

Wat ik erg leuk vind aan dit boek is dat er ook informatie over bloemen, bijen en honing wordt gedeeld. Het is dus niet alleen een mysterie, maar ook een informatieboek. Super leuk gedaan door de auteur, die ook zelfs de illustraties verzorgde.

Het stukje over bestuiving in het boek kan ik mooi gebruiken in mijn natuurles. Kunnen de leerlingen en ik dit mooi op een begrijpende manier samen lezen. Zeker een aanrader voor 7 jaar en ouder.

#Leesknokploeg #LezendeLeraren #LangZullenZeLezen #KristynaLitten #Lemniscaat

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

german review only
netgalley ebook

Das war einfach so gut gemacht. Der Zeichenstil war wunderschön, nicht nur farbenfroh sondern auch so viele kleine Details, selbst wenn gerade kein Rätsel anstand, wurde wirklich viel Sorgfalt in die Bilder gelegt. Die Charaktere waren unheimlich niedlich und ich hab sie wirklich gleich ins Herz geschlossen, selbst den Bösewicht.

Die Story an sich war genau richtig für Kinder aber hat eben auch mit unheimlich viel Spaß gemacht mitzurätseln und wirklich in die Story einzutauchen. Es war nicht zu verworren und hatte auch noch eine wirklich gute Lektion über Selbstvertrauen.

Ich hoffe wirklich, dass es noch weitere Bücher mit Ivy und Bärlock geben wird.

[Mama Bearian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! The illustrations are adorable, colorful, and detailed. The puzzles are fun, and the story is so cute! My son loved trying to figure out the mystery from the clues left throughout the book. We also love that it worked in actual science and information throughout! As a parent/librarian, I loved this one as an intro to solving mysteries. It was laid back with no scary or questionable content for the age group. The back of the book says 2nd-3rd grade, but I would say a child as young as Kindergarten would probably love it as well. We are already hoping for another Ivy and Bearlock!

[Jenny GB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is adorable. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and packed with details. They are such a pleasure to examine. The story itself is good! It seems to be the right level of mystery for young readers with several plausible suspects and a satisfying ending. I love the science facts beautifully worked into the story in a way that was not preachy or taking you out of the story. Finally, using little puzzles to include kids in solving the mystery is genius. This is such a fun, creative, and thoughtful book. I really hope there will be more of these!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from a bookseller friend and absolutely loved it! The illustrations are delightful and the story is a charming mystery. Young bear Ivy and her grandpa Bearlock Holmes work together to solve the mystery of the missing agave flower. Young readers will love the 15 puzzles throughout the interactive book: navigating mazes, cracking codes, finding matches and more. Kids will also learn about pollination and making honey. My 4 and 7 year olds both enjoyed this book.

[Deena Lipomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy can't wait to see a rare, giant flower bloom in their town's conservatory, but when they realize it is missing, Ivy helps her grandfather Bearlock Holmes solve the mystery. The illustrations are adorable, the plot is low stakes, and even the bad guy's actions have no ill intent. It is a perfect cozy mystery comic for chapter book readers.

[Katelyn Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing.
From the full pages of art, to the puzzles added throughout. Was a wonderful book to keep my kids entertained, and I loved that they were able to solve the mystery along with the characters.

[Aliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story and well illustrated. The concept was great but the puzzles were too easy for a kindergartener. Given that this book is a grade 2-3 reading level, slightly more challenging puzzles would have made it far more engaging.

[Llyr Heller-Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 looking forward to more

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and fun! I enjoyed the interactive elements.

[Clive]

C really enjoyed this book and wanted the next one right away! However, it doesn't come out until May! Which is forever when you're 6.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of little puzzles to solve to assist ivy and Bearlock Holmes. I’d give it 3 stars. My daughter gave it 4.

[Ardin Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this graphic novel incorporated puzzles! It was so fun!

[Emma Demopoulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel was so cute! I loved all the puns, and the art was so cozy.