Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert, Is a Detective Genius

August 15, 2020
Unicorns aren't the only thing on which Sophie Johnson is certain she's an expert. Enthusiastic (and quite overconfident) unicorn expert Sophie Johnson is also a genius at detection (well, in her mind). She has studied (not the books so much as the detective TV shows), and she's ready to solve any crime with the help of her canine assistant, Bella. In Sophie's opinion though, Bella is not the best assistant. As is her wont, Sophie is, unknowingly, proven entirely wrong. The tail of Sophie's stuffed lion has gone missing. Sophie sets out to discover the culprit. She interviews the suspects: a dolly, a goldfish, a toddler sibling, and various other stuffed animals. She fingerprints them. She stops for a snack because detecting is hard work. Meanwhile, in the background, Bella catches three actual thieves and gets a commendation from the police...of course Sophie doesn't even notice. She does lock up her stuffed rabbit for the tail-napping, and she's certain criminals would be everywhere if she weren't so vigilant. This sequel to Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert (2018) is as fizzy as its predecessor. The colorful cartoon illustrations are full of details that tell a far different tale than Sophie's narration. Sophie and her sibling present White, as do the would-be thieves, who are dressed in outlandishly conspicuous costumes that amplify the silliness. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 70.1% of actual size.) Sophie's unicorn-loving fans will enjoy her outing as a clueless detective. (Picture book. 2-7)

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September 25, 2020

K-Gr 2-Sophie Johnson is back, this time focusing on her new dog Bella and her new hobby of solving crimes. Much like in her original story, Sophie, the self-proclaimed "detective genius," seems to know it all. But the savvy reader will see just how clueless she is, as the real story of Bella, the super detective canine, parallels the text in clever illustrations. While Sophie searches for the culprit in the theft of a stuffed lion's tail and brags about battling "baddies," Bella solves this mystery, foils a robbery, and receives a "very good dog" ribbon from local law enforcement. Okstad once again offers a treat in every scene: bright colors, rainbow-colored confetti specks, adorable animals, all in a realistically chaotic living environment. Children will be entertained by multiple re-reads, each time following the antics and expressions of the baby sibling, the cat, etc. Oddly, or perhaps brilliantly, the wide-eyed, rainbow-maned unicorn of the house is never mentioned. All of the humans (Sophie, the baby, police officer, and robbers) have white skin, while Bella is a wide-eyed pup. Unfortunately, in boosting her own esteem about her skills, Sophie tends to belittle Bella-"I am definitely smarter than she is"-and is very, very smug. Additionally, the glorification of law enforcement and the battle between good guys and bad guys in this British import may be poorly timed in our current domestic climate. VERDICT This book is sure to be popular with the sparkles-and-unicorns crowd, dog lovers, and those who like a fun mystery.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge P.L., MA

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