The Missing Pairs

Fox is missing a
sock, Hare is missing a mitten, and Badger is missing a boot. Luckily, friendly
Bear is there to solve the mystery. A silly and suspenseful picture book from
Yvonne Ivinson, creator of Fox and the Box, that is full of rhythm,
repetition, wordplay, homophones, and a surprise ending. An ideal choice for story times and emergent readers.

Two socks are a pair of
socks. Two mittens are a pair of mittens. Two boots are a pair of boots. Fox,
Hare, and Badger are each missing one of their pair. Luckily, Bear knows where
they are. Or does he? 

The Missing Pairs features delightful art and a hilarious text to
match. Observant readers will spot the thief and cheer for the friends as they
try to figure out the mystery of their missing pairs. A terrific choice for
family and story time sharing as well as emergent readers, this winning pick is for readers of
What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig and Not a Box. 

“Hand-drawn ‘Lost’ signs are going up all over a forest at this picture book’s start, and it seems that every animal is missing something. . . . The urgency of the animals’ quest is almost palpable, and the art’s autumnal cast is winning: the leaves float slowly off the trees, the cast wears bright woolly scarves, and from the looks of the icy blue sky and waving grasses, the forecast is windy with a nip in the air. It practically demands a reading with a side of hot chocolate.” - Publishers Weekly

“Falling leaves and chilly weather means it's time to start bundling up. But unfortunately for Fox, one sock is missing. . . . Ivinson's colorful, richly textured acrylic illustrations of the animated animals are bursting with charm, and the varied perspectives and droll details—from their festive accessories to the many handmade ‘Lost’ flyers tacked onto trees—add lots of visual interest and engagement. The accessible text interspersing rhyme and playful formatting makes for a lively read-aloud and, together with the artwork, offers a cheery picture-book mystery that will delight many kids.” - Booklist

“In a community of animal friends, personal items are going missing. . . . Realistic acrylic paintings in deep hues with textured brushstrokes to elicit the furry/fluffy coats and whiskers of the animals provide clues throughout. . . . The easily read text, conveyed mostly in dialogue and playfully incorporating the occasional rhyme, brings the mystery to a close . . . An intriguing whodunit couched in a simple story of friendship and indulgence.” - Kirkus Reviews