BUTLER, Dori Hillestad . King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code . ISBN 9781561458783 . ea vol: illus. by Nancy Meyers. 48p. (King & Kayla). Peachtree . Mar. 2017. Tr $14.95. Gr 12King and Kayla are solving mysteries for a younger generation in this prequel to Butler's "The Buddy Files" series. The stories are told from the perspective of King, a golden retriever with a nose for solving mysteries. In the Case of the Missing Dog Treats, three treats go missing and Kayla suspects King. Innocent King knows that an intruder has snuck in and must be found out. Is the real culprit Thor, Jillian's new puppy? Or is it Adam, Jillian's brother? Or someone else altogether? In the Case of the Secret Code, Kayla receives a strange letter on her doorstep that she cannot read. King smells oatmeal on the letter and knows only of one person who smells like oatmeal. Kayla and her friend Mason work to decipher the secret code, while King keeps trying, unsuccessfully, to tell them he knows who sent the letter. This new series features colorful illustrations and accessible tales told in short, simple sentences. It's a perfect option for newly independent readers ready to start transitioning from easy readers to beginning chapter books. VERDICT Transitional readers are always in demand, and this series is a worthy contribution to any collection serving brand-new readers.Lisa Nabel, Tacoma Public Library, WA

Three dog treats are missing, and Kayla thinks that the culprit is her golden retriever, King. But he knows the truth ere is an intruder in the house! Welcome to the world of Kayla and King, a new early reader series with dog and human perspectives on life. In this opening title, Kayla, brown-skinned and curly-haired, is making treats because Jillian, her friend with lighter skin and blond hair, has a new puppy, Thor. Five chapters help break down the narrative into manageable bites while keeping up the pace and intrigue. Kids will join in with Kayla, King, and friends as they list off facts and questions to solve the case. The hand-drawn, digitally colored illustrations bring out the giggles and smiles, especially when King and Thor meet with wagging tails and puppy play. This title is a delightful series start that will have kids returning to read more about Kayla and King. It's also a great introduction to mysteries, gathering facts, and analytical thinking for an unusually young set.

In a brand-new series a girl and a dog are detectives, finding mysteries in everyday events.King is a dog (a golden retriever), and Kayla is his human (a brown-skinned gal with springy brown hair). Through King's narration, readers get a glimpse of a dog's innermost thoughts—which mostly revolve around food and not going outside (a common mistake made by humans). Kayla's inability to understand King's dialogue, rendered in perfect English both within the text and in thought bubbles, is a running joke in the series. In their first book, Kayla prepares King's favorite snack, peanut-butter treats. But alas, they are not for him! They are for her friend's new puppy, Thor. When some of the treats go missing, King seems to be the prime suspect. But his nose has picked up the scent of an intruder. How can he convey this to Kayla? In true detective fashion, Kayla makes a list of known and unknown facts. In the second book, published simultaneously, King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code (2017), Kayla again employs this strategy to solve the crime. Readers will connect with this charmingly misunderstood pup (along with his exasperated howls, excited tail wagging, and sheepish grins). The author of The Buddy Files whips up a light mystery fare for the younger set. (Early reader. 6-8)

Narrator King, an exuberant dog, introduces himself and his human Kayla in the initial two entries of a new early-chapter-book series. Each story is a mystery: Treats concerns the theft of some dog biscuits, and Code concerns a substitution cipher. Repetition both within and between books helps boost confidence in beginning readers, as do the generous, plot-reinforcing illustrations.