GRAPHIC NOVEL: The Great Puptective by Alina Tysoe WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEW

 

THE GREAT PUPTECTIVE

The Great Puptective #1

written and illustrated by Alina Tysoe

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024

ISBN: 9781665938242 

Source: eARC & ARC from the publisher (THANKS!)

Ages 6-9

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover, author art, & summary provided by the publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A set-in-his-ways housecat has his routine upended by an enthusiastic new puppy with a nose for solving mysteries in this first adorable book in a graphic novel chapter book series perfect for fans of InvestiGators and Narwhal and Jelly.

Truffles the cat is the only pet in the house and reigns in peace and quiet, only exerting himself to find the best place to take a nice, long nap—preferably in a spot of warm sunshine. Then Poppy the puppy bursts onto the scene.

Poppy is loud, enthusiastic, excitable, and—worst of all—a puptective! She’s got an eye for crime and a nose to solve all mysteries that come her way…even though she’s not completely sure what a mystery is.

Truffles cannot let this intrusion stand. Poppy won’t be able to continue disrupting his precious me-time if she’s shipped to the North Pole! But could this irrepressible new companion be just what this grumpy cat needs?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

From the moment she was able to hold a pencil, Alina Tysoe was scribbling away and filling notebooks with doodles of dogs and comics about her family. Today, Alina is an illustrator, 2D animator, and author of What’s Up Beanie: Acutely Relatable Comics, a collection based on her popular webcomic by the same name, the picture book Emi Isn’t Scared of Monsters, and the graphic novel chapter book The Great Puptective. She lives in New Zealand with her husband, Mike, who makes regular appearances in her webcomic, and, infuriatingly, no dogs.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

What is the 'story behind the story'?

One day during a brainstorming session I wrote the words “puppy”, “detective” and then “puptective” next to that and became obsessed with the idea of a story about an earnest puppy called Poppy who just happens to be a detective. I sketched some character design ideas and Truffles - a grouchy orange cat was born to be a natural counterpart to Poppy and her unwilling new friend. The duo’s dynamic is now the center of the story! 

2. What is your least favorite thing about writing?

The clumsiness of the first draft - it’s an unskippable stage but anything that fuels my self-doubt during the writing process is my least favorite part of it. As soon as things in the story fall into place and start to make sense, I am happy.

3. If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?

Poppy and Truffles will return for a new adventure with a slightly spooky spin! Something ghostly and kitten shaped is haunting their neighborhood and Poppy will have to get to the bottom of this new mystery in The Great Puptective: Purranormal Activity!

4. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

Don’t panic if the first draft isn’t perfect - the whole point of a first draft is to get something down to build upon it further. As I mentioned it’s not my favorite stage of the process but letting the writing evolve from the first draft and knowing that it’s just the first step, really helps with not feeling too perfectionist about it. 

5. Which comes first: words or illustrations?

It’s a bit of a hybrid! I am a very visual person so when I write my first draft, it takes the form of both writing and very rough sketches, kind of like a storyboard. 

REVIEW

In this childlike early graphic novel, Truffles the cat is hugely upset when his family grows by one with the addition of Poppy the puppy. Not only is Poppy noisy and overactive, but she claims to be a 'puptective.' As Poppy works to find something to investigate, Truffles does his best to find a way to get rid of the annoying addition to his quiet life. Disguises, traps, pawprints galore lead Poppy into an investigation unlike any she could have imagined.  With large eyes and round ears, the adorable pup is bound to find fans immediately. The large, easy to read text and full color illustrations add to the appeal and make the book easy to read. The amusing storyline is likely to lead to giggles and oohs and aahs. While Poppy isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, her enthusiasm is contagious. And Truffles discovers that being alone isn't all it's cracked up to be. The bonus section that teaches young readers how to draw Truffles and Poppy may inspire kids to create their own 'puptective' adventures.