The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

Wilcox and Griswold Mysteries #1

by Robin Newman, Deborah Zemke (Illustrator)

When food goes missing on Ed's farm, Detectives Wilcox and Griswold do what it takes to track down the thieves. In this case, Miss Rabbit's carrot cake has disappeared. Has it been stolen? Or eaten? Or both? Who dunnit?

"Readers ready for chapter books will solve the crime and then be surprised by the twist at the end. Here's hoping for more hard-boiled detecting from Wilcox and Griswold!"
-- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Genres: Mystery, Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2015

About the author

Raised in New York and Paris, Robin's been a practicing attorney and legal editor, but she now prefers to write about witches, mice, pigs, bears and peacocks. She lives in New York with her husband, son, and two spoiled dogs.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great use of figurative language for examples for young people.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite children's book series when my boys were little was NATE THE GREAT, and this little gem of a book is just as fun and funny. I made my 17 year old younger son read it with me and we both got such a giggle from it. Robin Newman is to be commended on writing a book so good that a child 10 years older than the target age can still appreciate it. I look forward to the upcoming books in the series!

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting hungry from a book isn’t something I thought I would say was on bingo card, so BE AWARE of this book if you are. The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman is a tale about solving the crime of a carrot cake gone missing. It’s jam packed with characters that have a great sense of humor, and the way the crime plays out is hilarious. The first theme I noticed was the care to detail. Since this was an investigation, Detective Wilcox was very thorough in his questioning skills. He made sure to ask each individual what they were doing and where they were during the time frame of the crime. They could have also easily jumped to conclusions, but they decided that being thorough and waiting it out was a better outcome. The second theme or message of this book was laughter. Although the story focuses on a crime of stealing the cake, we as readers were kept entertained by the funny one liners placed in the book. A lesson that can be taken from this book is teamwork. Many of the farm animals helped with discovering who the thief of the cake was. They all collectively helped Detective Wilcox, and collaborating made it easier to be successful in solving this mystery. The second lesson that can be derived is that making mistakes is fine, but apologizing is necessary. Everyone is bound to make mistakes in life, but if you rectify them, it’s better for you because you allow yourself to move on. This is a mystery book because it's centered around a crime that’s unsolved and the ending is unexpected as well. This is a WOW book for me because I love true crime stories that aren’t too scary, and this piece of literature was funny and wasn’t predictable.

The author Robin Newman made a point of keeping this book funny and lighthearted. I noticed he implemented the use of humor to keep his audience engaged. Detective Wilcox said, “Everyone knows MFIs are too hardboiled to make good eats... I chose to ignore that last comment.” This is just one of the quotes that made me laugh. The dialogue between suspects and the detective was just funny in general. The second writer's craft I noticed was the use of figurative language. Newman used metaphors such as “Cooked well done indeed” and similes like “Cool as a cucumber.” These phrases help us imagine the situations better and give more personality to Detective Wilcox since he is the narrator, which keeps the story both fun and engaging. This is an anti-bias book because of its diverse characters. We had all ranges from pigs to owls. They also explored all of the potential suspects without pinpointing it to one individual.

[Dajah Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This story made me laugh out loud.

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake follows two mice Missing Food Investigators who want to help a rabbit find who stole her carrot cake. After interviewing three suspects and setting up a multi-day stakeout, the culprit was found frosting-handed… in her own home? This story was truly entertaining and took me through many twists and turns. Some of the major themes in this book were teamwork and problem-solving. Many animals, some of which are predators and prey, came together to help solve the crime. There was also the use of deductive reasoning, the detectives interviewed the most likely suspects and worked their way through a list. The main genre of this book is mystery because there was a crime that needed solving and the characters, along with the reader, had no clue until the very end. Children reading this could learn how to approach mysteries of their own and how to collaborate with others, even if they may not get along well. This story was a WOW book for me because I had a lot of fun reading it!

Some of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were humor and anthropomorphism. These made the story engaging from start to end. I would consider this book to be anti-bias because the book features solely animal characters that do not represent harmful stereotypes of certain people.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh no! Where did it go?
This book evokes a strong sense of curiosity as the two detectives try to solve this mystery. The missing carrot cake leads the detectives to interrogate others, gather evidence, and create a plan to catch the thief red handed. Throughout the book, I enjoyed the timestamps and illustrations as it feels like one is traveling alongside the detectives. The story leads up to the culprit, and thus ending on a satisfying note. The major themes of this book were problem-solving and expect the unexpected! I believe these are the themes because throughout the journey, the audience is also thinking of possible suspects. It may just be the last person to expect. Another theme is teamwork because without the help of the other animals, there would have been no resolution. Overall, this mystery book is good at teaching people skills for cooperating in joint efforts to solve a task and developing investigative skills. This was a WOW book for me because the sequence of events were well laid out and encourages readers to think analytically as more clues arise. I also enjoyed this book because carrot cake is one of my favorite cakes!
Two literary devices that I noticed were metaphors and repetition. I liked the metaphor: “this investigation was scraping the bottom of an apple barrel” because it was a unique way to deliver that the investigation was leading nowhere. The repetition showed the anxiousness of the detectives as the case seemed to go to a dead end. All in all, both of these literary devices help the reader to imagine the emotions and setting of the scenes better which enhances the quality of this book. This book teaches anti-bias values because it shows to not assume too quickly about others. Another way the author portrayed anti-bias perspective was through lack of tokenism, loaded words, etc.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WILCOX and GRISWOLD MYSTERY: THE CASE OF THE MISSING CARROT CAKE Honestly, can you ever really get enough of a delectable Detective Mystery? Well, here’s one that’s sure to whet your appetite! And watch out you dieters! I warn you, if you’re hungry, this will make you hungrier! With all the talk of scrumptious carrot cake and cheese donuts, you’ll be salivating for sweets, crashing the cupboard and raiding the refrigerator!

From the first page to the last this story is jam-packed and jelly-filled with food puns, fun characters and clue-laden ingredients for a tasty “easy reader” mystery. Detective Wilcox and his boss Captain Griswold are two well-seasoned professionals. As MFIs (Missing Food Investigators), they are on the job, following every crumb of a lead to nab whoever took Miss Rabbit’s carrot cake. Was it Fowler the Owl, Porcini the Pig or maybe even Hot Dog? They won’t stop ‘til they’ve caught the thief in the act. And if you’re still wondering who stole the cookie from the cookie jar, I’m betting they know!

Debut author, Robin Newman found the perfect mix of ingredients and with Deborah Zemke’s “icing on the cake” illustrations, together they’ve cooked up one great book in the process!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wilcox and Griswold Mystery: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman is a delightful Children's/FarmAnimal/ Mystery.
Fast paced Mystery for Children age 4-8, grade Preschool(someone would have to read for them) to 3 grade. A delightful, cute Children's who didn't. A great Chapter Book tale for Young Readers, where they can learn to solve a crime.
These characters will charm Young Readers as they take a romp across the farm to find, what happened to the missing Carrot cake. Simply delicious! Educators, parents, grandparents, and librarians alike are all sure to enjoy this title. A "Dragnet" type adventure for Children. Well done! I look forward to the next grand adventure. Highly recommended!
*Received for an honest review from the publisher*

**Cross-posted on My Book Addiction Reviews dot com**

Rating: 5

Heat rating: N/A

Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Nancy Schair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read in an early elementary classroom. Students can predict "whodunit"and together enjoy Robin Newman's clever use of language. When the book is completed, maybe the class can share a carrot cake made from the recipe at the end of the book.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rollicking read is filled with animal puns, a delicious mystery and clues for kids to figure it out!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Boys and girls, this case is about thieves on Ed's farm. The names have been changed to protect the good guys. Over 100 animals live on this farm. Most work. Some horse around. Others steal. That's where I come in. My name is Detective Wilcox. I'm a policemouse. The boss is Captain Griswold. We're MFIs, Missing Food Investigators. It's our job to investigate cases of missing food. Whatever the food, whatever the crime, we make the bad guys do the time. It was Monday morning. The captain and I were working the day shift when we got our first call.

Premise/plot: This is the first in a new early chapter book series by Robin Newman. It's a mystery series. I should add in a very FUNNY, well-crafted mystery series. In this first book, Miss Rabbit reports that her CARROT CAKE is missing. Wilcox and Griswold take the case, and the hard work begins. WHO is the thief? Can young readers solve the mystery before the big reveal?

My thoughts: I LOVE this one. I read plenty of early chapter books, and, while I appreciate many for what they do, I don't always love, love, love them for myself. I include myself in the target audience for this new series. I just adore the characters. And I LOVE the writing. Newman makes me LAUGH. My favorite line: "Truth to tell, this case was inching along slower than ketchup out of a bottle. Much slower indeed."

[Grace Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story! Its use of phrases, metaphors and idioms can be complex for children; however, the language actually works really well with the books simpler features. This combination makes it accessible for most whilst also having broad challenges. Thankfully, there’s a lot of material to work with if used with a class. As a hook I’d make a carrot cake and let it disappear in the staffroom. Then open an investigation with my pupils to find out which teacher(s) ate it. I’d obviously give the children cake too.

[Casie Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect novel for a mystery unit with young students. There are several characters and clues to keep students engaged and guessing who stole the carrot cake. This will be a “must purchase” book for my future classroom. This book could be read by individual students or as a class read aloud.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My favorite part was when Miss Rabbit had a cake, and the detective went to find the thieves. But it was no one. It was Miss Rabbit all along."

[Sydney Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake" by Robin Newman, illustrated by Deborah Zemke, is a delightful and clever picture book that combines mystery and humor. The story follows Detective Wilcox, a police dog, and his partner, Captain Griswold, as they investigate the disappearance of Miss Rabbit's famous carrot cake.

[rawr · Rating 4 out of 5]

who doesn't love a carrot cake??? i totally understand you miss rabbit and for mr. detective of MFI, i'm a big fan 🫡

[Cyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a police procedural for kids! My favorite line in the book is "She sure was acting like a funny bunny." Read by Wanda Sykes on Storyline Online.

[Cathy Mealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is the first title in a fresh new series that really takes the cake!

A perfect bridge from early readers to beginning chapter books, A Wilcox and Griswold Mystery: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake is jam-packed with funny illustrations and clever word play.

Two tough, fedora-sporting mice detectives are called in to investigate the shocking theft of Miss Rabbit’s tempting cream-cheese frosted dessert. After taking copious notes and photographing the crime scene, they skillfully interrogate three feathered, furred and curly-tailed suspects. A crummy and crumby trail of clues are lurking about, but the dedicated MFI’s (Missing Food Investigators) are keenly focused on cold, hard evidence. Will it take a lucky break to solve the theft? Or will high tech hi-jinks save the day?

Sprinkled liberally with spot illustrations, the cartoon style illustrations are silly, engaging and integral to the story development. The text is ripe with food puns and rich vocabulary that add to the zany, tasty tale.

Young readers will eagerly devour every delicious morsel – er, page- to get to the end of this mystery mouse-terpiece!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

To discover characters you've come to enjoy will be returning in another story is like celebrating your birthday more than one day a year. They are friends you can take with you anywhere, experiencing their adventures, their joys, their tears and their fears. Over time, books in a series allow you to watch characters grow.

While reading about these fictional pals we can see little pieces of ourselves in them. Sometimes we notice something before they do, willing them to share in this realization. One of the best things is when they make us laugh, completely unaware. Yesterday teacher librarian extraordinaire, John Schumacher hosted author Robin Newman on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read. After reading the post I knew I had to move her debut title, The Case Of The Missing Carrot Cake (A Wilcox and Griswold Mystery), Creston Books, LLC, May 2015) to the top of my stack. Late into the night I was bursting into laughter at her words and the funny detailed illustrations of Deborah Zemke.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life on Ed’s farm is busy and productive. Mostly. Except when there a food thief on the loose. That’s when mouse investigators Detective Wilcox and Captain Griswold spring into action. They’re MFI’s – Missing Food Investigators. They get their first call from Ms. Rabbit about her stolen carrot cake. With over 100 animals on the farm, the case is definitely going to be a “hard nut to crack”. The food references add another dimension of fun to this clever story.
The Dragnet style duo will have young readers following clues and laughing at the funny and “punny” illustrations and dialogue. One of my favorite illustrations is the wind up car the officers ride in. This Book One in the series is a perfect introduction to the mystery genre for early readers. It will also delight anyone who enjoys word play and tongue in cheek humor. This book is destined to be a classroom favorite. When you’re done solving the mystery, why not try the excellent Mollie Katzen carrot cake recipe included in the book.

[I'd So Rather Be Reading {Nat} · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake has the unique distinction of being the very fist chapter book I've read to Kaitlyn. I was so impressed at how this book captured and held her attention! We read it through in one sitting (it took over 30 minutes) and she immediately asked to read it again.

The protagonists are two mice who are detectives for a farm. They investigate missing food. Isn't that such a cute premise? Kaitlyn loved the premise and so did I. The prose was easy for a four year old to follow while still being entertaining for me to read aloud. There was a lot of witty banter between characters, and some repeating jokes which made the story even more fun.

The illustrations struck the right note: fun yet not too childish like a board book. They added depth and imagination to the story.

Kaitlyn and I both loved The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake and we highly recommend this book!

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this tongue - in - cheek transitional chapter book. Savvy kids are going to catch the little lines -
(story takes place on a farm) "Traffic was light - only a couple of chickens crossing the road." pg. 2

"I was chasing a field mouse."
"Do you have any witnesses?" If someone had seen her, she'd have an alibi.
"There was one, but I ate him." pg 10

(talking to the pig about his arrests) "Seems like you've spent some time in the pen."

All of these made me chuckle :)

It looks like this is set up to be a series. Will definitely be looking for more in the future!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire book in this new series for early readers is packaged quite nicely with a case file report on the end papers and the appearance of a crumpled paper bag on which part of the book is written. The story is told from the point of view of Detective Wilcox, a Missing Food Investigator, who tries to solve the case of a missing carrot cake while working with his superior, Captain Griswold. It's all great fun as the two follow various leads and interview many animal suspects. I look forward to reading more of these fast-paced adventures featuring two sleuths who also happen to be mice.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable story line. When reading a book I consider the recommended audience. The book is hampered by the design. I am unsure as to the age range suggested. Publisher calls for ages 4-8. The text is significant on each page. The language and inferences will not be caught by the younger reader. This seems to fall somewhere before Geronimo Stilton series. From a public library standpoint the size of the book beckons an early reader location however, the text and storyline fit best as a beginning chapter book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning chapter book with some challenging vocabulary (essential, investigation, surveillance, alibi). Includes many idioms: cool as a cucumber, packed like sardines, inside job, hard nut to crack, slower than molasses...). Good for teaching the elements of mystery genre, but possibly assumes too much vocabulary and knowledge of detective show terminology.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who took Miss Rabbit's missing carrot cake? Detectives Wilcox and Griswold are on the case around the farm to find the culprit. Great book for kids who are starting to read chapter books and like their mysteries light and with a side of humor and animal characters.

[Tara Strosnider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cure detective book an adorable early reader meet detective Wilcox and captain griswold

Inside jokes and it's perfect for junior detectives to sharpen their reading and reasoning skills. Kids are sure to come back for seconds this is so freaking funny and adorable

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure there are some who will think of this book as easy -- they would the people who will miss the sly sense of humor that underlies virtually every page of this book. It takes a sophisticated reader to truly get this book.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read, and to solve, beginning chapter book mystery. Filled with funny, tongue in cheek, phrases like cheese donuts for the mice policemen. Pg 17: "seems you spent some time in the pen" when they are perusing the pig's rap sheet.

[Lynn Grundset Milner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the format of the book as it appealed to my longtime love of crime stories and TV shows. The illustrations are also adorable from cover-to-cover.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery with lots of voice! Fun to read aloud, too!