2025 Winner Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction
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Judges comment "Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is a delightful feline-fuelled mystery where a kitty detective earnestly goes about trying to find his hat. This book is both literally and figuratively colourful – Beans interacts with a cast of entertaining characters on his sleuthing mission, which his Mum is fine with as long as he’s home by 8pm. The graphic novel format is expertly used to capture the character expressions, tone, and movement of the narrative. This is a skilfully crafted work, an all-ages book that is both fun and funny, with humour that hits on multiple levels."
www.kirkusreviews.com "Snazzy, appealing artwork, with firm lines, stylish focus, and an atmosphere reminiscent of hardboiled, 1930s detective tales, enhances this absurdly funny and clever graphic novel, which features vivid characters, snappy dialogue, and nonstop action.
Catnip to feline lovers and mystery fans alike. (Graphic fiction. 8-10)"
In this hilarious full-colour graphic novel, Cat Town's best kitten detective is on the case - of his very own missing hat! Detective Beans is available 24/7* for all your mystery solving and ice-cream taste testing needs.
* Except on school days, and after bedtime. Today he's investigating the case of the missing hat. His missing hat. The clues take Beans all over Cat Town. He encounters philosophical pigeons, dodgy street magicians, lounge singers and soup chefs, and even a mysterious trash portal. No one is a match for his crime-solving powers. But will Beans find his hat before Mum is expecting him home for dinner?
Li Chen was born in Beijing, China, and moved to New Zealand when she was five (with her parents, not as a solo child explorer, I don't think that's allowed). She's always loved drawing and has been working as a full-time comic artist since 2012. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is her first graphic novel. When she's not drawing, Li likes to hang out with her cats or go on really long walks. Oh, and she drinks a LOT of tea.
Age: From 8 years
Paperback, 208 pages
H: 226mm W: 152mm Spine: 12mm
Weight: 448 grams