Bookshelf Blurb: A mystery to solve and shapes to be taught while reading the story. Included activities reinforce the teaching with hands on activities at the end of the book.

America’s Review: Eric Comstock and Marilyn Sadler have teamed up again for another mystery-solving adventure with Charlie Pie Chart and his sleuthing dog, Watson. It is the day of the school’s musical theater production of The Princess and the Frog when Margot, the Princess, discovers her hat has disappeared! It has been taken.

In this 2nd Charlie Pie Chart mystery, Charlie Pie Chart and the Case of the Missing Hat, new elements of math are being taught. Charlie must discern where the hat is based on clues; he also must detect what shape he is trying to find among the many other shapes found throughout the school.

As in the first book, multiple skills are being taught as well as the key concept of the book. They integrate prior knowledge (colors, numbers, letters) into the mystery while also adding a new skill. The vibrant colors used in the illustrations help the reader’s interest stay piqued as they too have to search the pictures for details to help Charlie solve the mystery.

In the Classroom: Sadler and Comstock provide lesson plan activities at the end of their books. This is nice added value for parents or teachers because you don’t have to think of what to do or go search for a project. (You will need to send home a letter–or add this to your weekly newsletter–asking parents to send in empty paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls. These will be used for your activity after you read the book.)

One of the Common Core State Standards for Kindergarten students is for them to correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size (CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.2.) This book teaches shapes throughout the book giving examples you can find in your own classroom. As you read, pause and have your students find the shapes Charlie identifies as he is searching for the missing hat. If time allows, create a rocket ship for each child to take home using the directions at the end of the story. And if time doesn’t allow, send home instructions for your students to make a rocket ship or princess hat at home with their parents explaining what you taught in class and how parents can reinforce the learning in the home.

Charlie Pie Chart and the Case of the Missing Hat by Marilyn Sadler & Eric Comstock (HarperCollins | 9780062370563 | October 4, 2016)