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Mimi is Missing
Adventure, imagination and loads of fun.
From the bestselling author of Alice-Miranda comes this humorous and heartfelt series about eight-year-old Willa and her best four-legged friend, Woof!
Willa’s in trouble. Mimi – the famous racing pigeon owned by Frank, her neighbour and best old-aged friend – is missing. And Willa is pretty sure she’s the one who left the cage door open . . .
She’ll need her most creative ideas (along with the help of Tae, her best same-age friend, and her trusty sidekick Woof, the albino Irish Wolfhound) to track Mimi down before Frank finds out!
Can Willa find Mimi before it’s too late?
From the bestselling author of Alice-Miranda comes this humorous and heartfelt series about eight-year-old Willa and her best four-legged friend, Woof!
Willa’s in trouble. Mimi – the famous racing pigeon owned by Frank, her neighbour and best old-aged friend – is missing. And Willa is pretty sure she’s the one who left the cage door open . . .
She’ll need her most creative ideas (along with the help of Tae, her best same-age friend, and her trusty sidekick Woof, the albino Irish Wolfhound) to track Mimi down before Frank finds out!
Can Willa find Mimi before it’s too late?
128 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2022
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Harvey
133 books308 followersJacqueline Harvey has combined a successful career in education with her love of a good story. She is the author of many novels for younger readers and a picture book, THE SOUND OF THE SEA, which was awarded Honour Book in the 2006 Australian Children’s Book Council Awards.
Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.
Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.
Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.
Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.
Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)
Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013
Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013
Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.
Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012
Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year
Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013
Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards
Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012
Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.
Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010
Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.
Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020
Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.
Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.
Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.
Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.
Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015
Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)
Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013
Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013
Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.
Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012
Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year
Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013
Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards
Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012
Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.
Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010
Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.
Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 3, 2022
A book that will appeal to young readers branching into early chapter books and middle grade readers. The storyline will pique the interest of readers and keep them entertained until the very end. The characters are very relatable and by the end of the book I felt like I knew them. The illustrations are adorable and funny. With lots of themes to unpack and draw from, it ticks all of the boxes. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series!
July 17, 2022
Willa and her albino wolfhound Woof live in a cul-de-sac called Cricklewood Crescent. She has three best friends.
Woof - her best four legged friend
Tae - her best same-age friend
Frank - her grumpy neighbour and best old-age friend
Willa is always busy, chattering to Frank, hanging out with Tae and talking about his costume for the week, or walking Woof at the park.
Frank was once an accomplished medal winning pigeon fancier, with a flock of racing pigeons. Now he only has one in his backyard aviary. Her name is Mimi.
Willa is worried. Frank's last pigeon is missing. Is she responsible for Mimi's disappearance? Doing everything she can to solve the Mimi mystery, Willa discovers an even bigger problem. Frank has vanished too!
After a bird seed snatch, Woof's insistence on investigating a junk pile, and lots and lots and LOTS of bird poo, Willa may just get everything back to normal.
Willa is a friendly, bubbly 8 year old. Her grumpy neighbour's demeanor is no match for Willa's bright personality, especially when she considers one of the best things in the world is to make him laugh. This honest sweetness in Willa makes her almost invincible against Frank's dourness, and it's wonderful to read.
Sprinkled with expressive black and white illustrations throughout, this new junior chapter book series by the author of the Alice Miranda, Clementine Rose and Kendra and Max series' is going to be a real treat.
Willa and Woof is delightful and had me hooked early. I'm sure it will capture junior readers too.
Woof - her best four legged friend
Tae - her best same-age friend
Frank - her grumpy neighbour and best old-age friend
Willa is always busy, chattering to Frank, hanging out with Tae and talking about his costume for the week, or walking Woof at the park.
Frank was once an accomplished medal winning pigeon fancier, with a flock of racing pigeons. Now he only has one in his backyard aviary. Her name is Mimi.
Willa is worried. Frank's last pigeon is missing. Is she responsible for Mimi's disappearance? Doing everything she can to solve the Mimi mystery, Willa discovers an even bigger problem. Frank has vanished too!
After a bird seed snatch, Woof's insistence on investigating a junk pile, and lots and lots and LOTS of bird poo, Willa may just get everything back to normal.
Willa is a friendly, bubbly 8 year old. Her grumpy neighbour's demeanor is no match for Willa's bright personality, especially when she considers one of the best things in the world is to make him laugh. This honest sweetness in Willa makes her almost invincible against Frank's dourness, and it's wonderful to read.
Sprinkled with expressive black and white illustrations throughout, this new junior chapter book series by the author of the Alice Miranda, Clementine Rose and Kendra and Max series' is going to be a real treat.
Willa and Woof is delightful and had me hooked early. I'm sure it will capture junior readers too.
July 9, 2022
As an educator I wanted to find a book to read that children from a variety of age groups could follow along with and even try to have a go at reading. Throughout the gorgeous storyline is weaved with the cutest illustrations to help children to visualise what they are reading and maintain engagement. As an adult I really loved this book and knew my younger self would love this as well! I had many laughs while reading this book as Willa set off to find missing bird Mimi - that is the real Mimi, not a fake version of Mimi! I really can’t wait for the next book - I foresee a coming of age story. Another great read by Jacqueline Harvey.
December 28, 2024
I loved this book because it was really funny and I liked Willa and Woof and the three best friends!
June 21, 2023
Olen taas lastekirjanduse lainel ja järjest satuvad mu kätte mõnusad ja vahvad lasteraamatud. :)
Willa on naksakas tüdruk, kelle sõber Frank elba koosoma tuvi Mimiga vanadekodus. Willa käib nii Franki kui Mimit seal sageli vaatamas. Tüdruk aitab ka tuvipuuri puhastada, kuni ükskord märkab ta, et puuriuks ei lähe korralikult kinni. Ta unustab seda Frankile öelda ja järgmisel päeval ei olegi enam Mimi oma puuris. Siit saavadki seiklused alguse.
Sobib hästi algklassilastele suvelugemiseks. Loodetavasti õpetajad andsid ikka lastele vabad käed ise põnevaid uusi lasteraamatuid valida. ;)
Willa on naksakas tüdruk, kelle sõber Frank elba koosoma tuvi Mimiga vanadekodus. Willa käib nii Franki kui Mimit seal sageli vaatamas. Tüdruk aitab ka tuvipuuri puhastada, kuni ükskord märkab ta, et puuriuks ei lähe korralikult kinni. Ta unustab seda Frankile öelda ja järgmisel päeval ei olegi enam Mimi oma puuris. Siit saavadki seiklused alguse.
Sobib hästi algklassilastele suvelugemiseks. Loodetavasti õpetajad andsid ikka lastele vabad käed ise põnevaid uusi lasteraamatuid valida. ;)
June 9, 2025
So freaking cute!!!
I can’t get over how Willa expresses herself and her thoughts, it’s so cute how she uses big words that her parents use then wonders why they use big words. She owns up to her mistakes, in the cutest way possible and she’s being raised in a village of friends and family. I love this book as an 18 year old girl.
I can’t wait to read more of Willa and Woof 🩷
I can’t get over how Willa expresses herself and her thoughts, it’s so cute how she uses big words that her parents use then wonders why they use big words. She owns up to her mistakes, in the cutest way possible and she’s being raised in a village of friends and family. I love this book as an 18 year old girl.
I can’t wait to read more of Willa and Woof 🩷
Read
October 4, 2023Tore lasteraamat! Mitte midagi super erilist, aga haarav lugu ja toredad tegelased ning vahvalt tõlgitud samuti.
April 17, 2023
An eclectic group of characters including the resourceful Willa, her albino giant dog, trusty sidekick Tae, grumpy old Frank, and a menagerie of birds fill the pages of this funny and heartwarming book. Fantastic for those looking for early chapter books. There’s a real art to writing for this reading ability and Jacqueline Harvey nails it. Can’t wait to recommend to my library patrons.
September 12, 2024
Willa and Woof 1: Mimi is Missing is a children’s chapter book by Jacqueline Harvey. It features Willa and her pet dog, Woof. One day, the pair are visiting a friend who owns a pet pigeon. When Willa accidentally leaves the door to the bird cage open, Mimi the pigeon seems to go missing. Willa, Woof and their friend, Tae, go only a little hunt throughout the neighbourhood, hoping to find Mimi.
I think the book has a nice story. Willa seems like a really eager character, wonderful at making friends and always willing to try and help. She’s a pretty good character for kids, in my opinion. When she realises that the bird cage might have been left open, I think this could be a really good discussion point for parents (, guardians, etc) to talk to kids about responsibilities. Such as talking to kids about how to care for pets; not leaving the doors of bird cages or garden gates open. One of the interesting things about the book is the way it has been written. It is narrated by Willa. The way she talks us through the events of the book is very childlike, and it’s as if we are reading her thoughts. This bit didn’t necessarily appeal to me, as a reader, but I think it’s important for younger readers, because of how changeable kids can be. Such as the way kids might be talking about one thing, reminded of another completely different topic and change to talk about that instead. I think the author has accomplished this very well, and has done a good job writing the work. The pacing is pretty good, and I think there’s a good amount of suspense and drama to the book. I appreciate how Willa made a really good effort to try and find Mimi. I think it shows the audience how dedicated she is.
There are some lovely illustrations throughout the book. They are little drawings of the characters, and things happening in each chapter. They’re really pleasant to see, and give me a big smile. The artist did a really good job.
Overall, I think the book is quite nice. I am sure that there are a lot of kids who would absolutely love to have this book read to them, or even have a go at reading it for themselves. I definitely recommend it. Plus, I think there are a lot of good places there could be discussion points between parents (, guardians, etc) and children. Such as with the taking care of pets point, or you can also use it to discuss what happens when your own pet(s) go missing (even if they’re not birds).
I think the book has a nice story. Willa seems like a really eager character, wonderful at making friends and always willing to try and help. She’s a pretty good character for kids, in my opinion. When she realises that the bird cage might have been left open, I think this could be a really good discussion point for parents (, guardians, etc) to talk to kids about responsibilities. Such as talking to kids about how to care for pets; not leaving the doors of bird cages or garden gates open. One of the interesting things about the book is the way it has been written. It is narrated by Willa. The way she talks us through the events of the book is very childlike, and it’s as if we are reading her thoughts. This bit didn’t necessarily appeal to me, as a reader, but I think it’s important for younger readers, because of how changeable kids can be. Such as the way kids might be talking about one thing, reminded of another completely different topic and change to talk about that instead. I think the author has accomplished this very well, and has done a good job writing the work. The pacing is pretty good, and I think there’s a good amount of suspense and drama to the book. I appreciate how Willa made a really good effort to try and find Mimi. I think it shows the audience how dedicated she is.
There are some lovely illustrations throughout the book. They are little drawings of the characters, and things happening in each chapter. They’re really pleasant to see, and give me a big smile. The artist did a really good job.
Overall, I think the book is quite nice. I am sure that there are a lot of kids who would absolutely love to have this book read to them, or even have a go at reading it for themselves. I definitely recommend it. Plus, I think there are a lot of good places there could be discussion points between parents (, guardians, etc) and children. Such as with the taking care of pets point, or you can also use it to discuss what happens when your own pet(s) go missing (even if they’re not birds).
May 28, 2024
Read this to our Year 1 & 2 students as part of an exploration of Jacqui Harvey's work. I thought this was excellent. A mystery to be solved, lots of little bits of humour and also messages about friendship, helping each other & owning up to your mistakes. They loved it & have started to borrow the rest of the series.
May 12, 2024
This is a great little read. My 8 year old daughter who is a dog lover really enjoyed it and so did I. Humour, depth of characters and plot, original and wholesome. We’ll definitely be reading the next titles too.
May 26, 2025
A beautiful and wholesome story. So many funny one-liners - parents reading this to their kid would definitely be entertained. I love the depiction of Australian culture - it makes me reminiscent of my own Aussie childhood.
April 20, 2023
Interesting
April 25, 2023
Armas seikluslugu kaheksa-aastasest Willast, tema targast koerast ning nende vanaldasest sõbrast Frankist, kes ühel päeval kaob nagu ka tema tuvi. Willa asub tuvi ja Franki otsima.
July 2, 2023
Willa has a dog called Woof. Frank’s pigeons Mimi and Norman went missing. Woof found Mimi in the junk heap in Willa’s backyard. Norman came home.
January 31, 2025
A great first chapter book for young readers with warm, friendly, believable characters and an intriguing mystery to solve.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews