Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah - Hardcover

Press, Judy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 154157625X ISBN 13: 9781541576254

Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing ®, 2021

Synopsis

Pinky Bloom, Brooklyn's greatest kid detective, takes on a new case just in time for Hanukkah. When an extremely valuable ancient Israeli coin is stolen from her synagogue, Pinky sets out to find the thief. But other strange events keep distracting her. Could they be connected to the supposedly magical menorah that her neighbor has left in her family's care? Only Pinky can get to the bottom of this―with a little help from her annoying little brother.

About this title

About the Authors

Judy Press studied fine arts at Syracuse University and earned a masters in art education from the University of Pittsburgh. She is the creator of a dozen award-winning children's art activity books and early reader chapter books. A grandmother to ten, Press lives in Pittsburgh.

Originally from Ireland, Erica-Jane Waters credits her imagination to her childhood there and its wealth of folklore and fairy tales. She has been writing and illustrating children’s books for over twenty years and uses a mixture of traditional techniques and digital work to create her art. Waters lives in a 370-year-old, tumbledown cottage in deepest, darkest Northamptonshire in England with her husband and two children. 

Reviews

Gr 1–4—This early chapter book mystery is light on logic, despite its best attempts. It's Hanukkah, and Pinky Bloom, kid detective, is about to solve her third case. Her neighbor, Mrs. Glick, stops by to leave her "magical menorah" for safe-keeping. Shortly after, the lights flicker and the candles on the menorah mysteriously go out simultaneously. The next day, an ancient Israeli coin Mrs. Glick donated to the temple goes missing. After a series of convenient events, Pinky, her brother, and a neighbor visit the super's office and discover counterfeit coin-making supplies. Shortly thereafter, Pinky reveals that the super and Mrs. Glick's son worked together to counterfeit and steal the coin. The story is accessible for early chapter book readers. Pinky, her brother, and Miss Olga are entertaining characters, and the mystery moves along at a decent clip. The cartoonish illustrations scattered throughout are appealing and engaging. It is, however, completely implausible and too easily solved. It is overly convenient and unlikely that Pinky's family would have the menorah where the coin is hidden, and that the criminal would be their super. This is a serious crime for a kid to be solving, and the lack of police involvement is unlikely. VERDICT This light mystery is accessible to kids new to chapter books, and will entertain the undiscerning, but it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. Only for libraries in desperate need of Hanukkah chapter books. All others can pass.—Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Library Association, Wilton CT

Edition details

• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing ®
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 154157625X
• ISBN 13: 9781541576254
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Waters Erica-Jane
• Number of pages: 80