The inventive birthday-themed New York Times bestseller from the author of the international bestseller Animalia
When Horace the elephant turns 11, he celebrates in style by inviting his exotic friends to a splendid costume party. But a mystery is afoot, for in the midst of the games, music, and revelry, someone has eaten the birthday feast.
The culprit could be any of a number of exotically costumed animal guests, from a pig dressed as an admiral to a pair of giraffes in tutus to a zebra gone punk.
The fun of poring over the artwork for hidden messages and significant clues is matched by the joy of a birthday as described in the text―witty, clever, laugh-out-loud verses that are unusual, surprising, and full of life.
It will take a clever sleuth to deduce the thief’s identity. But don’t worry, you can sneak a peek at the top-secret solution if you need to. No, it won’t be easy, but the joy in a Graeme Base book can be the thrill of the chase.
As in Base’s hugely popular bestseller Animalia, his lush, intricately detailed illustrations in The Eleventh Hour comprise a sort of visual hide-and-seek. The rhyming text and lavish illustrations each provide clues, and it’s up to the reader to piece them together and decide whodunit.
Whether you or your child is a huge fan of the international sensation Animalia, has read all the Graeme Base picture books, or is new to the worlds that Base creates, this beautiful, full-color book will bring joy to bedtime, story time, a rainy day, or anytime!
Don't miss these favorite books from Graeme Base:
- Animalia
- The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery
- The Water Hole: A Counting Picture Book
Graeme Base is an internationally acclaimed British-Australian author and illustrator, widely regarded as one of the world's leading creators of imaginative picture books. With global sales exceeding six million copies, his works have achieved classic status and are celebrated for their intricate detail, rich visual storytelling, and embedded puzzles.
Base is best known for crafting books that encourage repeat reads and deep exploration:
- Animalia: An alliterative alphabet book and worldwide bestseller that challenged readers to find hundreds of objects hidden within its breathtakingly detailed illustrations. It has since been adapted into a popular animated television series.
- The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery: A captivating mystery in verse, where readers are challenged to solve the case of the missing birthday feast by finding codes and clues subtly hidden in the artwork.
- The Water Hole: A Counting Picture Book: A popular counting book that doubles as a fun introduction to geography and ecological themes, using die-cut pages to illustrate the shrinking water supply.
Graeme Base's books are a unique fusion of art, literature, and puzzle-making, appealing to children and adults alike:
- Intricate Artwork: He uses watercolors and transparent inks to create incredibly detailed, vibrant, and imaginative worlds, often taking years to complete a single book.
- Hidden Layers: His work consistently incorporates riddles, codes, and hidden figures, transforming the reading experience into a thrilling quest for discovery.
- Environmental Themes: Books like Uno's Garden and The Water Hole subtly introduce readers to concepts of ecology, conservation, and the importance of global stewardship.
Born in England, Graeme Base moved to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in Melbourne with his wife, Robyn. An accomplished musician as well as an artist, he has also adapted several of his books for the stage, including The Sign of the Seahorse as an opera.
Explore the marvelous, multi-layered worlds of Graeme Base, where every page holds a secret waiting to be found.
