King and Kayla Series by Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers

Brian E. Wilson works as a Children’s Librarian at the Evanston Public Library and served on the 2015 Odyssey and 2017 Caldecott committees.  Follow him on his blog Mr. Brian’s Picture Book Picks:  mrbrianspicturebookpicks.wordpress.com/

One of the most delightful new easy reader series to appear in 2017 star King & Kayla, a Golden Retriever and his mystery-solving human. Written by Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrated by Nancy Meyers, the books sparkle with charm and good humor. The Geisel Committee this year has three titles starring this duo to consider, and this essay will determine which one I personally feel meets the criteria best. Nothing in the rules says that more than one can receive Geisel attention, but I will limit myself to one.

First, a quick overview of the series. All three books follow the same formula. In four quick chapters and 48 fast-paced pages, each book has first person narration from King as he tells how he and Kayla suddenly have to solve a lighthearted mystery. Joining them in are Kayla's friend Jillian who has an adorable (even when he's biting King's ears) puppy named Thor. In the first offering, King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats they try to figure who took three bone-shaped peanut butter treats Kayla baked for Thor. In King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code, they try to decipher a note written in a letter-scrambling code. And King & Kayla and the Case of the Mysterious Mouse shows King believing that a mouse has somehow taken his favorite blue ball.

Each book has plenty of white space. Butler's writing is lively and engaging throughout, keeping the language simple. A running joke about King saying that various things are his favorite things in the world allow for an enjoyable repetition of some key words. Meanwhile, Meyers' warm illustrations help the emerging reader follow the action; she is especially good at King's facial expressions that convey the dog's range of emotions from excitement to sadness, from happiness to incredulousness (the human world perplexes him). Each book has a great page-turning element as Kayla lists three things they note about each case, and three things they do not know (I love that we see King's more id-like inner-thoughts serving as a comical counterbalance).

So which book in my eyes fits the Geisel criteria the most? Please keep in mind, I love all three books. However, if I were a member of the Geisel committee I would go for Mysterious Mouse. I dismissed Secret Code as a contender because the code, while a fun game, might discourage some early readers. Plus, the text keeps referring to a refrigerator that we never see in the illustrations. Missing Dog Treats is a very close second place. It's a funny book that introduces the characters. However, I found the resolution not as satisfying (no one notices the cat under the couch?). Although Mysterious Mouse refers to an event that happens in Missing Dog Treats, it still stands alone. The action, with King trying desperately to find his ball, is easy to follow, with the illustrations offering visual clues. Plus, the ending offers a major surprise that will tickle readers.

All in all though, this series is a wonderful addition to easy readers shelves.