Preschool Detective: In What’s That Smell? By Lauren McLaughlin -OPTIONAL

McLaughlin, Lauren Preschool Detective: In What’s That Smell? Random House, 2016. $16.99 PICTURE BOOK

This is about a little girl who likes to solve mysteries. Today there is a big mystery going on in the kitchen and Mitzi isn’t sure what its all about since she doesn’t recognize the smells. She bounces ideas off her little brother. The plot thickens when everyone in her extended family shows up and a cake is brought out from the kitchen.

I have trouble explaining mysteries, clues, and detectives to kindergarteners let alone preschoolers, so this would be a challenging read-aloud for pre-K. But the child in this story is just turning 4 years old, making the story unappealing to older picture book readers who might get those concepts. Cute illustrations and a sweet story, but doesn’t quite work for a school library.   

PRE-K –OPTIONAL  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author