Yesterday my humans took me to a place called Warren. I liked it very much; the fire hydrants are painted funny and everything smells a bit fishy. Even in this doggone summer heat I had fun!
Here I am waiting for Rachel and Suz outside a shop.
Usually I get a little sad when I'm not allowed in stores with my humans, but this time I decided to practice my detective skills. Tongue out to help me think, I kept my eyes open and my nose in the air. You have to pay close attention when you're trying to solve a mystery. Anything might be a clue or an answer to a question! Ruff!
As it was, I saw quite a few odd things. One human-pup walked by with a whole bottle of stuff that Allison called "Mountain Dew." He must have been thirsty because he was the only one lapping from that great big bottle - and he was wearing a shirt that matched it! I also found a tree with what looked like giant painted chew toys on ropes hanging on it.
"Buoys," Allison said. "Humans put them in the water to catch lobster."
Lobster? What was a lobster? A kind of water-loving dog?
"Lobsters are little red animals with hard shells," she continued. "Humans cook them, then crack them open to eat them." She made a face, showing that this thing called "lobster" is definitely not one of her favorite foods.
We passed by the lobster-buoy tree, and after that I decided to follow my nose. My nose, twitching like crazy, smelled salt or fish or something. Tugging Allison toward the smell, I trotted off. And found a bay! More water! Aroooooo!
Detectives are good at finding things; the bay wasn't lost, but I found it anyway!
Later I spotted a funny man on something called a moped, met a nice black lab named PJ, and stopped in at Jack's Bar for a biscuit and some water. Everyone is so friendly to me! I guess they can sense what a smart pup - a detective in training no less!- I am...
My latest mystery book is about not a dog, but a duck who solves mysteries:
Having only seen ducks from a distance so far (Allison says I am NOT allowed to chomp on the mallards in the park nearby), I didn't know what to make of The Web Files. I chew on Mr. Squeaky Duck at least once a day, but he has never tried to question a bad guy or look for clues. Unless he does it when I'm not looking...
But I do keep him on a pretty short leash.
So these ducks - themselves kind of mysterious - are what you would call "farm police." In this tale by Margie Palatini, illustrated by Richard Egielski, the hero and his friend Bill must track down a stolen peck of perfect purple pickled peppers. What I find strange is that after every part of the ducks' case, the author has written "DUM DEE DUM DUM" in bold print. Why? Allison says that this - along with phrases like "the usual suspects" and "dirty rat" - refers back to an old television show called Dragnet. When we first read it aloud, Daddy (who Allison says used to love detective/cop shows) laughed out loud and helped us with the "dum dee dum dum" parts. I think this means that some grown-up humans will like this book as much as the human-pups will!
A tongue-twisting (Allison's tongue had trouble with some of the "perfect pickled purple peppers") mix of nursery characters and crime drama, I give this book two paws up. The illustrations of the ducktective duo make the story even more funny - and little human-pups will jump to follow the adventure with gleeful "dum dee dum dums." Personally, I woofed softly along as I rooted for the ducks in their barnyard quest for missing vegetables. Sure to make parents and human-pups ages 4-8 laugh!
As of right now, this puptective is off-duty. There's plenty of time tomorrow for more practice - and more reading! Now where did I last see Mr. Squeaky Duck...
Yours in Quacking Crimes,
Sam I Am
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