Detective Stanley and the Green Thumbed Thief

The mystery unfolds through detailed illustrations rather than long text, inviting inquisitive 5-9 year olds to spot evidence on every page. Designed for emerging readers, it cleverly bridges picture books and comics while focusing on careful retrieval, inference and problem solving. Highly Recommended. – Tom Tolkien * School Reading List Review *
The beloved retired detective pup is back for another mystery. Poor Detective Stanley can’t catch a break-this time he’s called to the scene of the crime taking place at the beautiful Narlybone Botanic Gardens. Sir Barnaby Moss, Narlybone’s famed botanist, needs Detective Stanley’s help to solve the mystery and figure out who stole the prized slipper orchid. But the main suspect is none other than Stanley’s good buddy Parker Pines. Readers will follow along as Detective Stanley tries to solve the mystery and prove his friend Parker’s innocence. Colorful illustrations look as though they were pulled right out of a Richard Scarry book. The pages are filled to the brim with expressive characters, creative names, and a great plot twist. Those who enjoy “Mercy Watson” or “Investigators” will love reading another animal-filled mystery. Younger readers may struggle with the large and somewhat advanced vocabulary words. VERDICT: A clever and enjoyable follow-up in the “Detective Stanley” series – Sarah Nashak * SLJ *
Harrison’s art is delightful in placing assorted humanoid animals in flat, bright and detailed settings. There’s plenty for young readers to explore on every page, and background jokes feature, such as a police detective distracted by a butterfly. Having the police using scooters to get around is another great visual joke.[…]For those old enough to remember them, Hannah Tunnicliffe’s narration has the comforting cadence of 1970s BBC TV shows for young children. […]For all the clues, this isn’t a mystery to be solved, but one where the joy is following Detective Stanley around the attractively drawn town and taking in his feelings and persistence. He’ll return in Detective Stanley and the Trouble on the Train. – Frank Plowright * Slings and Arrows Comics and Graphic Novel Guide *
The adorable dog detective returns[…] The characters are charming, and this feels like a real world, or at least, a real village. […] All the various animals somehow fit together in a way reminiscent of Richard Scarry’s work, and they’re all approachable. Plus, they look like something anyone could draw (which downplays the artistic skill required to create that feeling and atmosphere but is another nice quality for a young reader comic). […] as with the first book, Detective Stanley and The Green Thumbed Thief is a great introduction to mysteries and detective stories. – Johanna Draper Carlson * School Library Journal - Good Comics for Kids Blog *

Hannah Tunnicliffe is the author of several books for kids and adults including Canadian bestseller, The Colour of Tea and trilingual picture book, Marjory and the Mouse. Her work has featured in the New York Times Book Review and she is the founder and host of the podcast, Bod Almighty. She lives by the sea with her family which includes one licky dog and an aloof cat.

Erica Harrison is an illustrator and children’s book designer from a small village in Norfolk. She moved to the big city to complete her art foundation at Norwich Art School, then took a degree in Graphic Arts at Leeds Metropolitan. After her studies, she moved to London where she landed her first job at Usborne Publishing. Here she spent the next 12 years designing and illustrating too many titles to mention. Since then, she has continued her travels, working from creative studios in Brighton, New York and Auckland, where she currently lives with her partner and daughter.

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