Enigma: A Magical Mystery (by Graeme Base)

Little Bertie the Badger needs to help his magician grandfather find his lost bunny. The quest takes him to the homes of various colorful creatures all of which have lost a magic object. As Bertie looks, so does the reader -- each object is hidden on its page. There are other riddles, too, for kids who are ready for a greater challenge. Even better, a decoder hides in the back to help kids figure out the rabbit's magical list.

Graeme Base's stunning picture books have long been favorites of kids and critics alike due to illustrations that are infused with color and boast enough detail to keep kids busy perusing the pages for days. But this book (like some of Base's previous tomes) takes advantage of his skill by offering a mystery that can only be solved by finding hidden objects in the pictures.

Older kids -- the target age for this book -- can keep busy aiding Bertie the Badger in his efforts and won't be discouraged by the rich vocabulary in the rhyming text. But don't dismiss this title for the little kids. While they may not be able to sit for the story and they likely won't be able to solve the mystery (at least not without help), they will still enjoy the pictures, which are always interesting but never scary. And they're sure to be intrigued by the idea.

Author: Graeme Base
Illustrator: Graeme Base
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date: September 1, 2008
Number of pages: 48
Hardcover price: $19.95
Read Aloud: 5
Read Alone: 12