Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Elliott (The Real Riley Mayes) channels the anthropomorphic animalian absurdity of Bunnicula in this energetic graphic novel series launch. Black cat detective Bel and her scruffy dog brother Zeb (whose sleuthing skills are less refined than Bel's) go on high alert when their neighbor, Payton Parakeet, goes missing in the middle of performing a magic trick with his brown-skinned human Carlo. After ruling out potential suspects, including "outdoor omnivore" cat Milo, the investigative duo set their sights on a human building resident whose high heels seem to match the prints they find at the crime scene. As they continue their inquiry, the animal siblings venture beyond the familiar comforts of their apartment courtyard. Human characters' inability to understand their animal companions' laugh-out-loud dialogue allows readers to feel like they're in on the joke as they accompany the furry duo on their adventure. Bel's dry yet cheeky case notes emphasize the pooch and feline's unlikely closeness and highlight how relying on each other's differences and individual strengths--such as Bel's practical, business-minded persona and Zeb's free-spirited attitude--makes their partnership stronger. Human characters are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 8--12. Agent: Susan Hawk, Upstart Crow Literary. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--6--Bel the black cat is a detective. With her brother, Zeb the brown dog, she sets out to investigate the case of a missing neighborhood parakeet. The mystery takes the pair on a journey through their apartment building and across the city as they interact with and interrogate a quirky cast of human and animal characters. The human characters are illustrated with diverse skin colors and hair textures; Zeb and Bel's owner, Josephine, has two moms. This graphic novel includes clues in the text and images to help readers solve the mystery. Unique back matter panels will send readers back through the book to find hints they may have missed on their first readings. There are also tutorials on how to draw Zeb and Bel. Elliot's cartoon art style is a strong fit for this non-scary animal mystery. The content of the story--animals, magic shows, simple detective stories--is aligned to second and third-grade interests, but the more complex text features like running jokes, flashbacks, distinct character voices, and vocabulary may make this book more accessible for middle graders. VERDICT A fun graphic novel with cute characters, recommended for mystery and animal lovers alike.--Kat Mowczko
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Elliott follows her debut middle-grade graphic novel, The Real Riley Mayes (rev. 7/22), with the first book in a sleuth series featuring cat and dog pair Bel and Zeb. Sly black cat Bel likes to be right in the action with her detective notebook and binoculars. Sweet, eager Zeb, with his shaggy fur in different shades of brown, is there to back her up. When the pets' neighbor, Payton Parakeet, goes missing, it's up to this brother-and-sister team to bring their friend home. With information from a winged FBI (Feathered Bureau of Investigation) agent and a little detective work, the two quickly solve the case. Zeb and Bel's human cohabitant, Josephine, and her friends make entertaining side characters for the neighborhood animals' antics. Elliott's illustrations are a perfect match for this lively and energetic story. Crisp lines and cheerful colors delightfully portray everything from Bel's expression of shock while being bird-dived to Zeb's playful poses as he vies for his whisker-sister's attention. This first installment includes the story of how Zeb and Bel met, which is sure to pull on readers' heartstrings. Budding comic-book artists will get a kick out of the back matter, which includes a guide to drawing both furry main characters. Hill SaxtonJanuary/February 2026 p.70 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A cat and dog endeavor to find a missing parakeet. Full of personalities and pets in close quarters, apartment life is the perfect setting for intrigue. This graphic mystery takes advantage of that confinement, working the particulars of city life from many angles. Bel, a black cat and aspiring detective, and Zeb, her goofy canine sibling, wait by their window for a mystery to unfold. In a series of scenes that winkingly referenceRear Window, they observe their brown-skinned young owner, Josephine, being shackled by a shadowy figure in a nearby apartment. Scampering to save her, they discover a magic show in progress (and Josephine doing just fine), but midway through another trick, Payton the parakeet vanishes into thin air! An apartment-wide search ensues, with fellow cats, an odd neighbor, and other feathered creatures falling under suspicion. Bel takes her task seriously; Zeb tags along barking amusing conspiracies and bursting into song. Their bird hunt takes them beyond their home base, into Perpleck City's parks, subways, and nature sanctuary. While moving through their intricate social environment slows their sleuthing down, the urban pleasures they encounter are compelling. Rendered in calmly natural hues, Elliott's slightly scrawly, playful illustrations depict a diverse community. Bel and Zeb make a delightful odd couple, and it will be exciting to see what metropolitan mystery they dig up next. An imaginative whodunit for aspiring young sleuths.(Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
