The Case of the Stinky Stench - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF
If you enjoyed Josh Funk's initial food story, you will also enjoy the sequel. What happens to Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast after they get foiled by Barron Waffle? Inspector Croissant arrives on the scene to help them solve the problem of "nefarious odors" wafting through the fridge. I always wondered what happened in the fridge when you shut the door. . . .
The Case of the Stinky Stench
Author: Josh Funk
Illustrator: Brendan Kearney
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books (2017)
Fiction
Ages: 5 - 8
Themes:
Friendship, mystery, humor, and compassion
Summary (From Barnes & Noble):
"Uncle,” Croissant said, “the fridge is in trouble! A mystery stench turned a whole shelf to rubble! I’m the last hope or the fridge will be lost! Help me or else we’ll be cooked, served, and sauced.” There’s a stinky stench in the fridge—and our favorite foodie friends must solve a smelly mystery! Sir French Toast’s nephew, Inspector Croissant, begs him and Lady Pancake for help in finding the source of the foul odor. Could it be the devious Baron Von Waffle? A fetid fish lurking in the bottom of Corn Chowder Lake? Featuring the same delectable rhymes, wordplay, and art that won critical raves for Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast—there’s even an actual red herring—this fun follow-up is an absolutely tasty treat for kids!
Opening Lines:
Back in the kitchen and deep in the fridge,
past Trifle Tower, across Taco Bridge,
on a vacation at Marshmallow Coast,
sat Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast.
Knocking down syrup (from Northern Vermont),
over the bridge came Inspector Croissant.
Why I like this book:
In a fun (though admittedly a bit pink at times) sequel, Josh Funk takes his reader back in to the fridge to imagine what the food does there when the door closes. Instead of a competition, this time Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast team up with a nephew (Inspector Croissant) to solve a food mystery. They travel through the fridge, following clues across Salsa Ravine, around Mount Everbean, over Applesauce River to Corn Chowder Lake.. With a witty rhyme , a quintessential red herring, and a message of cooperation, this book is a definite winner.
With such a lively band of characters, this book invites multiple reads to catch the many jokes and to solve the stinky mystery. Kirkus Reviews declared it " this is a recipe worth keeping.”
Related Activities:
- enjoy the amazing musical trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tX6gZWkgLY
- try to write a mystery, maybe one involving food or some other unusual characters.
- download the free activity sheets on Josh Funk's site https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/lp-sft-the-case-of-the-stinky-stenc
This post is part of a series by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.
