Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes (Pete the Cat)

PreS-Gr 1--Pete's back, this time in a rhyming counting book that has the cat and his platypus buddy, Gus, solving a mystery: Who's taking the cupcakes for the party? The tale sees the friends, most of whom will be familiar to fans of the mischievous feline, giving alibis one by one ("Turtle said, 'It wasn't me! It couldn't be! I've been swimming in the sea!' ") while Pete and Gus seek clues. Observant readers will enjoy finding hints along the way--amphibian footprints are a dead giveaway--and the rhyming and counting down as the cakes disappear make the book highly interactive. As usual, the Deans accompany their rollicking tale with jump-off-the-page bright artwork. Even the endpapers get in on the fun--they show sumptuous cupcakes, with the possible culprits popping up here and there. VERDICT For storytime or anytime sharing, this appealing picture book will be eaten up by readers and listeners alike.--Henrietta Verma, National Information Standards Organization, Baltimore