Annabel the Detective: The Case of the Birthday Surprise

Kelly L. Green is co-author of The Ethical Shopper’s Guide to Canadian
Supermarket Products and associate editor of the Canadian Book Review
Annual.

This third instalment in the Annabel series finds Annabel waiting for a
“big” present to come in the mail from Grandma. But Grandma, knowing
how Annabel likes mysteries, sends not the actual present, but a
toothbrush that is the first clue of a treasure hunt. Annabel and her
friend, Michael, follow the clues Annabel’s Grandma and father have
prepared, until Annabel does indeed find a “big present.”

The Annabel books are popular with children ages 4 to 7, the
learning-to-read crowd, who love detective pretend play and stories,
just like Annabel. As children’s literature, however, the books leave
much to be desired. This story in particular is predictable and dull.
The book has little to offer in the way of challenging vocabulary or
sentence structure. The sort of book children will devour quickly and
not return to, it was described by one 6-year-old as “Good, but not
that great.” Amanda Duffy’s illustrations are colorful and fun, but
I do wish the children’s little red noses didn’t make them look as
if they had spent the morning downing a six-pack. Not a first-choice
purchase.