Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

In this graphic novel, five unlikely gumshoes--a donkey, sloth, penguin, rat, and dung beetle--are hot on the trail of a villainous hairstylist who has been kidnapping and brainwashing the town's animal citizens then selling them as pets to a poodles-only community. The dialogue is stiff, but the offbeat characters and goofy humor (e.g., the detectives disguised--with cotton candy--as poodles) are engaging .

School Library Journal (Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 2-5 This books bright colors, simple page layouts, cartoon art, and humorous text will appeal to strong readers in the lower middle grades, although less-surefooted readers may balk at the size and amount of text on each page. The five friends of the 3-2-3 Detective Agency, a donkey, a penguin, a sloth, a rat, and a dung beetle, must find out why the citizens of Whiska City are disappearing before one of their own falls victim to the animal-nappers. Characters are clearly and quickly distinguished, silly action abounds, and sharp-eyed readers will find clues to the mystery in the backgrounds of some panels. Some readers may find the art frustrating: the energetic, adolescent style makes faces hard to read, with most mouths situated just below the cheekbone, and animals that are supposed to be fluffy just look like theyre melting. Second and third graders who like funny mysteries will adore it: its a supplemental purchase for everyone else. Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

Kirkus Reviews

While heading by train to Whiska City to chase her dream of becoming a detective, Jenny the donkey meets a menagerie of new friends who will make perfect partners in her new venture. Roger, a dung beetle who likes gourmet food, Priscilla, a penguin with theatrical aspirations, Slingshot, an atypically hyper sloth, and Bluebell, a nondescript rat, all sign on. They arrive, find an office and do some detective training before placing their first ad in the paper. The next day, they're swamped with customers; animals have been disappearing all over Whiska City. Each detective detects, finding clues that point to prissy Pootles le Frizz. He's brainwashing Whiska City's denizens and selling them as pets in Pristeena, an exclusive walled community of poodles. With cooperation, franks and beans and a few laughs, the 3-2-3 Detective Agency cracks the case and catches the villain. Robinson's marker-pen art is bright and energetic, though sometimes hard to decipher in the small panels of her graphically told story. Budding detectives, however, will enjoy the background details that will have them guessing the culprit before the detectives do. Good, goofy fun. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Jenny the donkey travels to Whiska City to set up her private detective agency, and on the 3:23 express train she makes friends with Priscilla the penguin, Slingshot the sloth (who can't sleep), Bluebell the rat, and Roger, a gourmet dung beetle. They decide to become partners in the agency, which they name after the train where they all met. Even as they arrive in Whiska City, they notice something strange is happening: animals keep disappearing. In quick order they pick up several missing-animal cases, even one from the mayor after the entire police department disappears. Then one of their clients, Dave Warthog, also disappears. The clues they find seem to point to the persnickety poodles, with their beauty salons and their gated, private community. Robinson imbues her characters with unique personalities and skills that all play a role in solving the case, and her loose, colorful, and cartoony comic-book panels invite readers right into the story. Young mystery lovers will enjoy spotting the clues in the art as they read.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Friends are made and found in the 3-2-3 Detective's debut graphic novel, intended for readers ages 4–8. After a chance meting aboard a train to Whiska City, Jenny the donkey, Roger the dung beetle, Priscilla the penguin, Slingshot the sloth and Bluebell the beetle team up to form an unlikely band of crime fighters. They must soon learn to use their unique talents and work together to solve a rash of disappearances linked to a suspicious beauty salon. What follows is an old-fashioned crime caper that leads the fledgling detectives into a sticky situation. The characters are frank in their approach and realize that working together is the best way to solve problems. Robinson, creator of <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The Useful Moose: A Truthful, Moose-full Tale, has a fresh and honest sense of humor, which she blends with values of friendship and kindness. Her art is simplified and colorful, almost like a child's experiment with a coloring book, and endearing. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Aug.)