Preus, Margi. Case of the Pilfered Pearls, The. Junyi Wu, Illus. The Shrew detective; bk. 1. Abrams/Amulet, 05/2026. 120pp. Fiction. Trade $15.99. 978-1-4197-7802-5. GRADES Kindergarten–3. ADDITIONAL.
In this moving-up mystery series opener, we meet Minerva, a pygmy shrew, urged to investigate a missing pearl necklace before the human owner brings in exterminators. Although Minerva lives under a tree at the edge of a forest, she is part of a large community of shrews, mice, squirrels, and chipmunks, many of whom live in the walls and attic of a nearby house, whose human inhabitants include a rodent-blaming mother (not shown) and her kind son, Rory, who is depicted as a light-skinned, dark-haired boy. Minerva is curious, observant, cautious, perpetually hungry, and also yearning for knowledge – represented by the pages of a recycled dictionary she uses for wallpaper and quotes often. Readers are likely to guess parts of the mystery before Minerva does, but her persistent interviews of all involved parties pull the pieces together and provide an avenue for reparation and a satisfying conclusion. Medium font size and frequent illustrations combine with dramatic illustrations in black pencil by Junyi Wu to show a cozy world, a solvable mystery, and an emotionally resonant story, just right for the intended audience.
Erica Siskind—Oakland Public Library